Fact Check: "At least 100 people have been killed in a gun attack on a village in Nigeria’s north-central Benue state, according to Amnesty International Nigeria on October 7, 2023."
What We Know
On October 7, 2023, Amnesty International Nigeria reported that at least 100 individuals were killed in a gun attack on a village in Benue state, Nigeria. The attack occurred in Yelewata, a community within the Guma area, during the late hours of Friday into Saturday morning. The organization indicated that many victims were locked inside their homes, which were subsequently set ablaze, leading to numerous bodies being burned beyond recognition. Additionally, the report highlighted that dozens of people were missing and hundreds were injured, lacking adequate medical care (source, source).
The police spokesperson for Benue confirmed that an attack had taken place but did not provide specific casualty figures (source). The violence in this region is often attributed to ongoing conflicts between local farmers and herders, primarily over land and water resources (source).
Analysis
The claim that at least 100 people were killed in the attack is substantiated by multiple credible sources, including reports from Amnesty International and mainstream media outlets like ABC News and Sky News (source, source). Amnesty International is recognized for its rigorous human rights advocacy and reporting, lending significant credibility to their statements. The details provided by the organization align with the accounts from other news agencies, which corroborate the scale of the violence and the circumstances surrounding the attack.
However, it is important to note that while Amnesty International's report is credible, the exact number of casualties can sometimes be difficult to verify immediately following such incidents due to the chaotic nature of the aftermath and the potential for conflicting reports. The police's failure to provide a specific death toll adds a layer of uncertainty, but the consistency across various reports supports the assertion that the death toll is indeed significant.
Conclusion
Verdict: True. The claim that at least 100 people were killed in a gun attack on a village in Nigeria’s north-central Benue state, as reported by Amnesty International Nigeria on October 7, 2023, is accurate. The evidence from multiple reliable sources confirms the occurrence of the attack and the reported fatalities.
