Gunmen carried out series of attacks in Benue state last week, resulting in the deaths of at least 74 people, according to local officials and police.

On Wednesday, suspected herdsmen killed villagers at a funeral in Umogidi village in Otukpo local government area, while on Friday evening and Saturday morning, 28 bodies were recovered at a camp for internally displaced people in Mgban local government area.

Reasons for the attacks are unclear, but the Middle Belt region, where Benue is located, has long been a flashpoint for conflict over land use that often intersects with ethnic and religious divisions. President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the recent violence and directed security forces to increase surveillance in affected areas.

Meanwhile, in Zamfara state, armed gangs have abducted at least 80 people in remote villages in a continuation of the kidnappings for ransom that have become a major problem in the region.

With Reports from Reuters