Fact Check: In the previous month, gunmen believed to be herders killed at least 20 people in the Gwer West area of Benue state, Nigeria.

Fact Check: "In the previous month, gunmen believed to be herders killed at least 20 people in the Gwer West area of Benue state, Nigeria."

What We Know

In early June 2025, reports emerged of an attack in the Gwer West area of Benue State, Nigeria, where gunmen, believed to be herders, killed at least 20 people. This information was confirmed by local authorities and reported by various news outlets. The local government chairman, Ormin Torsar Victor, stated in a video that the attack resulted in multiple fatalities, including a young child, and described the scene as graphic and tragic (AP News). The police spokesperson for Benue State, Anene Sewuese, corroborated that an attack occurred but reported a lower death toll of four, including a police officer (AP News).

The context of violence in this region is significant, as clashes between herders and farmers over land and resources have been a persistent issue in Nigeria's northern regions. Farmers often accuse herders, predominantly of Fulani origin, of encroaching on their farmland, while herders claim historical grazing rights (AP News).

Analysis

The claim that at least 20 people were killed in Gwer West is supported by multiple credible sources. The local government chairman's statement and the subsequent reports from the Associated Press provide a reliable account of the events, emphasizing the local perspective on the violence (AP News).

However, it is important to note the discrepancy in death tolls reported by local officials and the police. The police often report lower figures, which can be attributed to a variety of factors, including the chaos of the situation and the potential for underreporting (AP News).

Other sources, such as Amnesty International, have highlighted the ongoing violence in Benue State, noting that gunmen believed to be herders killed at least 20 people in Gwer West last month, reinforcing the claim's validity (Sky News).

The reliability of the sources cited is generally high, as they include reputable news organizations and human rights groups that have a history of reporting on violence in Nigeria. However, the potential for bias exists, particularly in the framing of the conflict as a herder-farmer issue, which can oversimplify the complex socio-political dynamics at play.

Conclusion

The claim that gunmen believed to be herders killed at least 20 people in the Gwer West area of Benue state, Nigeria, is True. This is supported by multiple credible sources that confirm the attack and the associated fatalities, despite some discrepancies in reported death tolls. The context of ongoing violence in the region further substantiates the occurrence of such tragic events.

Sources

1. Gunmen killed at least 20 people in north-central Nigeria over the ...
2. Gunmen kill at least 100 people in Nigeria's Benue state, ...
3. At least 100 people killed by gunmen in north-central Nigeria ...
4. Nigeria: At least 100 killed in gun attack in Benue state village ...
5. At least 100 people killed as gunmen attack Nigeria's Benue
6. Latest attack reportedly kills nearly 200 people in Nigeria
7. Over 20 killed in simultaneous attacks in Nigeria's Benue state - MSN
8. At least 20 people killed in attacks on communities ...