At least 500,000 people have been forced to abandon their homes in Benue State due to persistent violent attacks by gunmen, according to a report released by Amnesty International on Thursday.

The human rights organization's report, published on its official website and shared on X (formerly Twitter), details the harrowing conditions faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the state, which remains under siege despite government assurances of improved security.

In the most recent attack on June 14, more than 100 people were killed in the town of Yelwata, with nearly 4,000 others fleeing for safety. Amnesty International investigators who visited the affected community described a grim scene.

"The smell of decomposing bodies hung in the air during a visit to the affected community by Amnesty International in the aftermath of the attacks. Clear evidence of the recent violence was everywhere, with spent bullet casings scattered on the ground and freshly dug mass graves used to bury the victims," the report stated.

Survivors Left to Fend for Themselves

Survivors were observed carrying food, firewood, and other belongings as they sought safety in displacement camps. According to Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, security forces consistently arrive long after attackers have departed.

"According to interviews with IDPs in Gwer West, Agatu, Ukum, Kwande, Logo, Guma and Makurdi IDP camps, as well as a makeshift IDP camp at Makurdi Modern Market, communities who come under attack are often left to fend for themselves with security forces only arriving long after the gunmen had left," Sanusi stated in the report.

The report strongly criticizes Nigerian authorities for repeatedly failing the people of Benue State. "Continuous attacks by gunmen have stripped thousands of their fundamental rights, including the right to life, safety, freedom of movement, and the ability to earn a living," it noted.

Deteriorating Conditions in Displacement Camps

Those who survive the brutal assaults face additional suffering in overcrowded and unsanitary camps where diseases spread easily and basic necessities like food and clean water are in short supply, according to the report.

Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian government to act swiftly to provide humanitarian aid and implement effective security measures to protect the people of Benue from further suffering.

The Yelwata killings have been a subject of controversy, with some stakeholders, including Comrade Daniel Onjeh, debunking the narrative that the violence stems from farmer-herder clashes, suggesting more complex factors are at play in the ongoing crisis.

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