A Night of Terror: Yelewata Under Siege
The quiet village of Yelewata in Benue State, Nigeria, was shattered by unimaginable horror in the early hours of Saturday, June 14, 2025. As families slept, armed men, believed to be criminal herders, stormed the community, unleashing a brutal assault that claimed at least 102 lives and left over 100 others fighting for survival. Homes were set ablaze, families trapped inside, and the night filled with screams and gunfire. This attack, one of the deadliest in Nigeria this year, has reignited fears of escalating violence in the region’s long-standing conflict between farmers and herders. With survivors grieving and hospitals overwhelmed, the nation grapples with a tragedy that underscores the urgent need for peace and security.
What Happened: A Deadly Ambush
The assault on Yelewata, a rural community in Guma Local Government Area near the Benue-Nasarawa border, began just before midnight on Friday, June 13, 2025. Armed attackers, suspected to be herders, invaded the village with heavy gunfire, targeting homes and shelters. The attack lasted over two hours, with assailants pouring petrol on buildings and setting them alight, trapping residents inside ([Anadolu Agency]). Witnesses described scenes of chaos as entire families were burned alive, with many bodies charred beyond recognition ([Amnesty International]).
Chief Dennis Denen Gbongbon, president of the Association of United Farmers Benue Valley, reported a death toll of at least 102, with over 100 others in critical condition at Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi ([Anadolu Agency]). “Medical personnel have made an urgent appeal for blood donations to save the injured,” he said, highlighting the strain on local healthcare. A survivor named Godspower recounted the horror: “The armed men poured petrol before setting fire to our shelters and burnt our people in their sleep” ([Anadolu Agency]).
The attack was particularly devastating for internally displaced persons (IDPs), who made up about 85% of the victims. These families had fled earlier violence in nearby communities like Antsa, Dooka, Kadarko, and Giza, seeking safety in Yelewata’s market stores and residences, only to face terror again ([Daily Trust]).
The Human Toll: Lives and Homes Destroyed
The scale of the tragedy is staggering. At least 102 people, including women, children, and IDPs, were killed, with dozens still missing and hundreds injured ([Amnesty International]). Social media posts shared graphic images of charred homes and bodies, painting a grim picture of the destruction ([X posts]). Many victims were locked in their homes and burned alive, leaving survivors like Godspower to mourn loved ones lost in the flames.
Hospitals in Makurdi are overwhelmed, with over 100 patients in critical condition and an urgent need for blood donations ([Anadolu Agency]). The attack also displaced countless families, adding to Benue’s 450,000 IDPs, many of whom can no longer farm due to ongoing violence ([Amnesty International]). The loss of homes, livelihoods, and loved ones has left Yelewata reeling, with survivors facing an uncertain future.
Why Yelewata? A Region Plagued by Conflict
Yelewata’s tragedy is part of Nigeria’s persistent farmer-herder conflict, centered in the Middle Belt, where Benue State lies. This region, where the Muslim-majority north meets the Christian-majority south, is a flashpoint for disputes over land, water, and grazing routes ([BBC News]). Farmers, mostly Christian Tiv, accuse Fulani herders of grazing cattle on their crops, destroying harvests. Herders, backed by a 1965 grazing law, claim access to traditional routes ([ABC News]). Climate change, desertification, and population growth have intensified competition, turning disputes into deadly clashes ([France 24]).
The conflict has taken on ethnic and religious dimensions, with attacks often blamed on Fulani herders, though herder groups urge authorities to investigate before assigning blame ([Al Jazeera]). Yelewata, located on the Benue-Nasarawa border, is particularly vulnerable due to its proximity to contested areas. This was the third attack on the community in a week, following assaults that killed 25 in Makurdi and 58 in other Benue towns ([BBC News], [The Sun]).
A Pattern of Violence: Recent Attacks in Benue
The Yelewata massacre is not isolated. Benue, known as Nigeria’s “food basket” for its yam, maize, and soybean production, has faced relentless violence:
- June 12, 2025: Suspected herders killed 25 in Mtswenem and Akondotyough Bawa, Makurdi ([Punch Newspaper]).
- June 9, 2025: Four died in Agatu and Apa, with many injured ([The Sun]).
- May 2025: 42 killed in Gwer West, including a Catholic priest ([The Guardian]).
- April 2025: 56 died in Ukum and Logo, blamed on herders ([DW News]).
Amnesty International reports over 200 villages sacked in Benue, with 450,000 displaced ([Amnesty International]). The violence has disrupted farming, threatening food security in a state critical to Nigeria’s agriculture.
Response: Authorities Scramble to Act
Benue authorities and security forces are under pressure to respond. Joseph Har, special adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on security, confirmed the attack and said investigations are ongoing, with 102 bodies recovered ([Anadolu Agency]). Police spokesperson Udeme Edet reported that tactical units engaged the attackers, killing some, and are pursuing the rest ([Anadolu Agency]). However, the ambush of security personnel in nearby Daudu, where two soldiers and an NSCDC official were killed, highlights the challenges ([Politics Nigeria]).
Governor Alia dispatched a delegation to support Yelewata’s grieving families, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice ([Times of India]). Yet, residents and activists criticize the government’s failure to curb the violence, with social media posts calling Benue’s leadership “useless” for not protecting IDPs ([X posts]). The 2017 anti-open grazing law, meant to reduce clashes by establishing ranches, remains unimplemented, fueling frustration ([The Guardian]).
The Bigger Picture: A Nation in Crisis
The Yelewata attack underscores Nigeria’s broader security challenges. Armed groups, including Lakurawa bandits in Sokoto and Boko Haram in Borno, have sacked hundreds of villages since 2023, killing thousands and displacing millions ([Amnesty International]). In Benue and Plateau, herder-farmer clashes have escalated, with 167 communities attacked in two years ([Amnesty International]). Weak policing, corruption, and a lack of governance in rural areas allow attackers to operate with impunity ([Al Jazeera]).
The conflict’s religious undertones—Christian farmers versus Muslim herders—have raised concerns of ethnic cleansing, with some X posts claiming attackers shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the assault ([X posts]). However, such claims require verification, as herder groups argue they are unfairly scapegoated ([Al Jazeera]). Amnesty International has warned that without immediate action, “many more lives may be lost” ([Sky News]).
What’s Next: A Call for Solutions
The Yelewata massacre demands urgent action. Short-term needs include medical aid, blood donations, and support for displaced families. Long-term solutions require addressing the root causes:
- Security: Deploy more troops and improve intelligence to prevent attacks.
- Land Reform: Implement the 2017 grazing law or mediate grazing routes to reduce disputes.
- Climate Action: Address desertification driving herders south.
- Justice: Prosecute attackers to end impunity.
The federal government, urged to intervene in Benue’s “strategic” food-producing region, faces pressure to act ([France 24]). International aid could support IDPs, but Nigeria’s leaders must prioritize peacebuilding to break the cycle of violence.
Voices of Yelewata: A Community in Pain
Survivors like Godspower represent the resilience of Yelewata’s people, who face terror yet cling to hope. Chief Gbongbon’s plea for blood donations reflects the community’s desperate fight to save the injured. As one local said, “Even in displacement, they found no peace” ([Daily Trust]). These voices demand the world’s attention and action.
Your Thoughts Matter
What can Nigeria do to end this violence? How should the world respond to Yelewata’s tragedy? Share your ideas below and join the call for change.
Disclaimer: This article is based on reported events and aims to inform, not advocate. The views expressed do not reflect the opinions of this publication.
Sources: Anadolu Agency, Amnesty International, BBC News, Daily Trust, Punch Newspaper, Sky News, The Guardian, Times of India, ABC News, Al Jazeera, France 24, The Sun, Politics Nigeria, The Washington Post, Reuters, The Hindu, DW
