Tears and devastation have gripped Yelwata, a community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, following a brutal overnight attack by suspected herdsmen that has left scores dead and homes in ruins.
Eyewitnesses said that the coordinated assault, which occurred late Friday night through the early hours of Saturday, claimed over 100 lives, with some houses recording mass casualties.
In one home alone, 40 corpses were recovered, while another family lost 15 members, according to local accounts.
“This is not just an attack; it’s a massacre,” said a grieving resident in a viral video. “We were inside because it was raining.
“Around 10:45 p.m., gunshots erupted near the police station. Not long after, they came into our homes, breaking doors and shooting at anyone they saw.”
Amnesty International has condemned the carnage, describing it as one of the deadliest mass killings in Nigeria in recent years.
The attackers, reportedly split into two groups, executed a chilling plan: while one faction targeted and overwhelmed the local police station, the other moved from house to house, slaughtering residents and setting buildings ablaze.
Graphic images and videos shared by social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, captured the aftermath—charred remains of children, burnt houses, and smouldering farmland.
“What my eyes have seen, my mouth cannot speak,” Otse said in an emotional clip. “These are children that were burnt to ashes.”
Apart from the staggering death toll, the community also suffered economic losses. Over 200 bags of rice, valued at about ₦25 million, were reportedly destroyed by the gunmen, who razed barns and looted properties.
Among the victims was a local pharmacist whose brother confirmed he lost 15 relatives.
“Entire families have been wiped out,” he said. “This is a pain that words cannot describe.”
Residents lamented the lack of security presence and government response during and after the incident. “Our community youths tried to resist, but we were outnumbered and outgunned. The attackers only left around 2 a.m.,” one said.
Calls for justice and decisive action have continued to mount across the country, with the Niger Delta Congress strongly criticising the federal government. “In Nigeria today, human life is now valued less than crude oil,” the group stated in a press release condemning the killings.
As of press time, authorities had yet to issue a formal death toll or announce any arrests related to the attack.
Benue State, which lies within Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has remained a flashpoint of violent clashes often linked to land disputes between herders and farming communities. However, residents argue the Yelwata assault was not a clash but a full-blown invasion.
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