Gunmen killed 23 in fresh attacks on villages in Nigeria's Benue State amid ongoing land disputes between herders and farmers.

According to AFP, gunmen have killed at least 23 people in a series of separate attacks in Benue State, central Nigeria, as reported by a Red Cross official on Sunday. The violent incidents occurred on Saturday night across four villages. Clashes between nomadic herders and farmers over land use are a frequent occurrence in this region of Nigeria.

Anthony Abah, the Red Cross secretary in Benue State, informed AFP that reports from the field confirmed the deaths of at least 23 individuals resulting from different attacks. He detailed that eight people were killed in Ukum, nine in the neighboring Logo area, and three each in the Guma and Kwande localities, based on data collected by the organization's field disaster officers. He also noted that several people sustained injuries during the assaults.

Police have not yet released an official statement regarding these latest attacks. Some of the areas targeted on Saturday had also experienced violence just over a month ago, in incidents that claimed at least 56 lives.

Earlier in April, unidentified gunmen carried out two separate attacks in neighboring Plateau State, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 people.

In central Nigeria, land shared by both farmers and herders is increasingly under pressure due to the effects of climate change and human population growth. This intensifying competition for dwindling resources often leads to deadly confrontations.