Fulani herdsmen on the rampage in Benue

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded a farming village in central Nigerian state of Benue , burning several houses, police said Saturday, amid reports that at least 20 people died in the violence.

“There was an attack yesterday, around 11:00 am by suspected Fulani cattle rearers at Iyordye Akaahena village in Guma … Many houses were burnt,” state police spokesman Daniel Ezeala said.

He said security forces had moved in to quell the violence, the latest to hit central Nigeria in recent months.

Ezeala could not immediately say if anyone died in the attack, but local media said at least 20 people, mostly ethnic Christian Tivs, were killed.

“We have deployed security personnel to restore normalcy to the area. We don’t have any information on casualties,” he said.

Violence over grazing rights has been on the rise, with government not providing any solution.