At least 100 people are feared dead following a violent assault by suspected bandits on Yelewata, a community located in Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State. The attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday.
In a related development, two soldiers were also killed in Daudu, another town within the same LGA, which lies approximately 20 minutes from Makurdi, the state capital.
This marks the third attack on Yelewata in one week, intensifying fears among local residents.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers descended on Yelewata shortly before midnight, unleashing terror for over two hours with minimal or no security intervention.
“In previous attacks, some courageous local youths managed to repel them. But this time, the attackers came in large numbers with sophisticated weapons and completely overpowered the community,” a local source said.
A staff member of the Guma local council, who requested anonymity, described the scene as a targeted attempt at ethnic cleansing.
“This is certainly a plan to wipe out an ethnic group,” he said, adding that over 100 corpses had already been recovered. He also stated that many of the dead were burned beyond recognition.
“Majority of the victims are IDPs who take shelters in market stalls and shops along the road. These evil bandits poured petrol before setting fire on the shelters, burnt them in their sleep. They broke into other people’s homes and hacked them to death with cutlasses.
“Some of the victims are between 10 and 15 family members. Over 40 were rushed to hospital and 20 already died on the way. I’m afraid the death toll may rise to 200,” he added.
Chief Dennis Denen Gbongbon, President of the Association of United Farmers Benue Valley (AUFBV), also confirmed the tragic development.
“At about 2am today, there was a very disturbing security incident involving Tiv farmers in the Yelewata community of Guma LGA. Suspected Lakurawa bandits, believed to be herders, attacked the area, killing over 62 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and farmers. Several homes were also burned, and entire families wiped out in ways that defy imagination.
“The death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue. Many victims were burnt alive inside stores. I am currently on the ground, and from what I have seen, about 85 percent of the victims are IDPs who had earlier fled from communities such as Antsa, Dooka, Kadarko, and Giza, seeking refuge in various stores around the Yelewata market and nearby residences. Many have also been hospitalised.
“These IDPs are still farmers by livelihood. They were only in Yelewata to find safety. While it is important to distinguish between IDPs and resident farmers, doing so helps to understand the worsening reality these farmers face. Even after fleeing from their ancestral homes to seek refuge in IDP camps, terror continues to follow them without pause.”
The Benue State Government, through its Special Adviser on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har, acknowledged the incident but said details remained sketchy.
“I can’t give an exact account of it because I’m not there physically but I’m aware that this ugly thing happened yesterday in Yelwata and at the back of Daudu. They are two different attacks. I can’t say the exact number because I don’t have the details,” he said.
In the separate attack on Daudu, it was reported that military personnel responding to an attempted incursion were ambushed late Friday, leading to the death of two soldiers. Some witnesses claimed as many as five officers were shot.
Lt. Zubair Ahmad, spokesperson for Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), said he was still gathering information on the incident and would provide an update in due course.
Meanwhile, the Benue Police Command confirmed the attack in Yelewata, though it did not release an official casualty figure.
According to Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, “According to our information it happened in the early hours of today (Saturday) where suspected bandits invaded Yelewata town. The police and tactical teams posted to the town and reinforcement responded swiftly to the attack and engaged the attackers in a fierce exchange and some of the attackers were killed in the process.
“But it’s with great sadness that we report that some individuals lost their lives and others sustained injuries. The police however has not relent and are still in pursuit of the attackers and will continue to keep everyone one safe.”
