At least ten people were killed during an attack on the Mbalom community in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State on Easter Sunday. Gunmen struck as residents were celebrating the holiday, leaving several others wounded. Amnesty International condemned the massacre, blaming Nigerian authorities for ongoing failures to protect civilians. The human rights group described the attack as part of a disturbing pattern of violence that has plagued communities in the region. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident. Amnesty called for a thorough investigation into the killings and accountability for security lapses. The Benue State government has yet to issue a detailed statement on the attack. The incident adds to growing concerns over insecurity in the central region of the country.
Amnesty International's criticism points directly to the state's inability to secure Mbalom, despite repeated violence in Benue. When ten people can be killed in a single attack during a public celebration, the reality is that armed groups operate with near impunity in some areas. This failure to protect civilians suggests security agencies are either overwhelmed or disengaged in rural communities. For Nigerians in similar regions, safety is increasingly a matter of chance, not policy.
