A renewed wave of violence rocked Benue State as suspected herdsmen launched a deadly pre-dawn attack on Yelewata, a community in Guma Local Government Area, leaving at least 100 people dead and dozens injured.
The victims reportedly include women, children, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had sought refuge in market stalls and nearby homes. The assault, which began around 2 a.m. during heavy rainfall, caught residents in their sleep. Eyewitnesses said the attackers invaded from two directions and operated for nearly two hours without resistance. By the time the violence subsided, homes were burnt, lives lost, and the once peaceful farming settlement lay in ruins. Deputy Governor of Benue State, Sam Ode, wept openly during a visit to the scene, calling the killings “barbaric.”
The emotional toll was evident as he surveyed the charred remains of victims and destroyed property. Local officials, including Guma council chairman Maurice Orwough, confirmed the scale of the tragedy and disclosed that over 26 survivors had been hospitalized. Conflicting reports have emerged about the casualty count. .
Joseph Har, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Internal Affairs, told Turkish news agency Anadolu that 102 bodies had been recovered. However, Tersoo Kula, the governor’s spokesman, stated that at least 45 people were confirmed dead. Community members estimate the death toll may be even higher, with some families completely wiped out and others burned beyond recognition. Police authorities confirmed the incident but have yet to release an official death toll. Benue Police PRO, ASP Edet Edeme, said tactical teams had been deployed to the area and were engaging the attackers.
He noted that some of the gunmen were killed during the confrontation, though losses among the security forces were also reported, including the deaths of at least two soldiers. Local accounts indicate that the attackers may have been part of a larger coordinated assault. A separate group reportedly attempted to storm Daudu, another community in Guma, but were repelled by a combined force of youths and security operatives.
Residents had earlier received warnings of possible attacks on several communities including Yelewata, Ukoho, Ortese, and Yogbo. A community leader, Matthew Mnyan, said the attackers set fire to market stalls where IDPs were sleeping, pouring petrol on structures before igniting them. Entire families were reportedly incinerated. Mnyan, a former acting chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, described the scene as “a terrible sight.”
Chief Dennis Gbongbon, President of the Association of United Farmers Benue Valley, blamed the attack on Lakurawa bandits and claimed the majority of victims were IDPs from Antsa, Dooka, Kadarko, and Giza. He noted that despite relocating to what was considered a safer location, the IDPs continued to face relentless attacks. Civil rights activist Paul Omale called on the Federal Government to deploy more troops to secure farming communities in Benue. “These sustained attacks have devastated Benue’s role as the food basket of the nation,” said local farmer James Ukeyima.
Dr. David Olofu, founder of the Apa Legacy Sustainability Initiative, urged the federal government to construct a highway along the River Benue corridor from Lokoja through Taraba as a long-term security strategy. He said ungoverned forest corridors have become safe havens for criminals and emphasized the importance of rural road infrastructure for rapid security response.
The political dimensions of the crisis also surfaced. Governor Hyacinth Alia alleged that prominent politicians, including some members of the National Assembly, were complicit in the ongoing violence by harboring and funding the attackers. He cited interim findings of a judicial panel of inquiry. In response, the Benue National Assembly Caucus, through Senate Minority Leader Abba Patrick Moro, dismissed the allegations as baseless and irresponsible.
As the state reels from yet another massacre, calls for concrete action are intensifying. Community leaders, civil society groups, and state officials have all emphasized the need for better protection, accountability, and infrastructural development to curb the worsening security situation in Benue.
