Nigeria Dozens of villagers died in Nigerian air force raids, says Amnesty Houses and civilians reportedly targeted in dispute over land between herdsmen and farmers Pall bearers carrying the coffins of people killed during clashes between cattle herders and farmers earlier this month in Benue. Photograph: Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP/Getty ImagesAt least 35 people were killed by the Nigerian military’s air raids on villages last month, according to the human rights organisation Amnesty International. Witnesses described Nigerian air force jets bombing houses and targeting civilians trying to hide in five villages in raids that a military spokesman said at the time had a “positive effect” in tackling communal violence. “Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method by anyone’s standard,” said Amnesty’s Osai Ojigho. “Houses started burning.

Source: The Guardian January 29, 2018 18:22 UTC