Two attacks in the space of a few days left 30 people dead in two neighbouring towns in Nigeria’s central State of Benue, long prone to inter-communal clashes, sources told AFP.

Armed bandits killed at least 13 traders on Friday (February 7, 2026) afternoon in Anwase, a village in the Kwande area, local government official Ibi Andrew told AFP.

He said the assailants stormed the market “and opened fire on the people randomly”.

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“The attack left traders and residents traumatised, with properties destroyed and families searching for missing loved ones.”

On Tuesday, armed men had attacked the market in nearby Mbaikyor, killing 17 people, including a police officer, according to two residents and local media.

The region has seen an upsurge of violence in recent months between Muslim ethnic Fulani herders and mainly Christian farmers over control of land and resources.

Though generally presented as communal clashes, the unrest stems from complex dynamics with land rivalries exacerbated by climate change, a proliferation of small arms and the lack of a sustainable response from the Nigerian State.

A tanker truck laden with gasoline exploded Tuesday (October 21, 2025) in north-central Nigeria, killing at least 31 people, police said.

The explosion occurred in the Bida area of Niger State after the truck fell and as local residents rushed to the scene to scoop up spilling fuel, police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun said in a statement. He said 17 people also were injured in the blast and were taken to nearby hospitals.

In recent months, Niger State has seen a rise in accidents involving heavy-duty trucks, which analysts have blamed on bad roads and the absence of a rail network. The state serves as a major transit hub for commodities moving between northern and southern Nigeria.

An investigation was underway to identify the driver, the owner of the tanker and cause of the accident, the police spokesperson said.

Niger State Gov. Umaru Bago said it was disheartening that people go to collect gasoline from overturned tankers despite the danger. “This is yet another painful, difficult, and tragic one for the people and the state government,” Bago said.