On the night of Feb 21, at least 500 people were killed in the mainly Christian area of Agatu in the central Benue state of Nigeria. That\u2019s according to local sources, although the figure could rise even higher – due to continuing violence and the fact that locals and relief workers still cannot get full access to the area due to security concerns.<\/p>\n
Eleven days after bands of Muslim Fulani nomads launched systematic attacks on local communities, they still occupied at least six villages they\u2019d seized, confirm relief and media workers – the first who managed to reach the area. Local media report that spokespeople for the herdsmen\u2019s association told the police chief their action was provoked by the Agatu people killing “10,000\u201d\u009d cows.<\/p>\n
Members of this first mission said they saw no dead cattle at all. One of the team, carrying an amateur video camera, captured disturbing evidence of the human deaths, however, and sent this report, voiced by WWM staff.<\/p>\n