Amnesty International has condemned the killing of at least 10 people in Mbalom, Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State, describing the incident as part of repeated failures by Nigerian authorities to protect residents.
The group said gunmen invaded the community on Sunday during Easter celebrations, killing villagers, injuring dozens, and destroying homes and shops, while families continue to search for missing persons.
In a statement on Monday via its official handle, the organisation said, “Gunmen invaded the village on Sunday while Easter celebrations were ongoing, leaving dozens of people severely injured.”
It added that “apart from killing people, the gunmen also set many homes and shops on fire,” stressing that the situation reflects a broader pattern of insecurity in the state.
The group further criticised the government’s response, stating, “The Nigerian authorities have failed the people of Benue State again and again,” and noted that “frequent attacks by gunmen have deprived thousands of people of their rights to life, physical integrity, liberty, freedom of movement and access to livelihoods.”
It added that more than 500,000 people have been displaced in the state, many living in camps with limited access to water, sanitation, food, and healthcare.
The attack in Mbalom is part of a wider wave of violence that disrupted Easter celebrations across northern Nigeria.
