Benue Massacre: Over 200 Feared Dead as Suspected Herdsmen Launch Coordinated Attacks on Yelewata and Daudu

 

At least 200 people, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), women, children, and security operatives, have been reportedly killed in a coordinated and deadly attack by suspected herdsmen in Yelewata and Daudu communities, both located in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria.

This latest tragedy marks one of the most brutal and large-scale assaults in the region’s recent history, leaving behind scorched homes, grieving families, and renewed fears about escalating insecurity in the Middle Belt.

Night of Horror in Benue: Attackers Strike from East and West

According to survivors and eyewitnesses, the attack began late on Friday night and continued into the early hours of Saturday. Residents of Yelewata, many of whom were already displaced from earlier attacks and living in makeshift market stalls, were caught completely off guard despite earlier warnings of impending violence.

Community members described how the assailants approached the village from both the eastern and western flanks, encircling the settlement and launching simultaneous assaults. Heavily armed, the attackers overpowered local vigilantes and police officers before unleashing terror on defenceless IDPs, setting homes and stalls ablaze with petrol and indiscriminately killing anyone they encountered.

Some victims, including toddlers, were reportedly "slaughtered like animals."

Burnt Alive in Their Homes

Amnesty International Nigeria, in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), described the incident as a massacre. According to the rights group, many families were locked in their homes and burnt alive, and dozens of victims were burnt beyond recognition. They reported that hundreds of people had sustained injuries while many others were missing and likely trapped in the rubble.

“A Dark Day”: Yelewata Community Leader Speaks Out

Mr. Matthew Mnyan, a respected leader in Yelewata and a former Acting Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), spoke to journalists with visible emotion and pain.

He said:

“It began around 11 pm when they emerged from the western side, opening fire. Our youths and police resisted. Then another group attacked from the east and overwhelmed them.”

“They killed people, set stalls ablaze with petrol, and burnt homes. Displaced individuals from Branch Udei and surrounding villages were inside those stalls. Shockingly, none of the soldiers intervened to protect them.”

Mnyan revealed that over 200 people had been killed in the carnage. Families consisting of 12 to 15 members, including parents and children, were burned alive in their homes.

“We’ve recorded over 200 fatalities—families of 12, 15 people, including husbands, wives, and children, have all been consumed by fire. About 46 wounded were taken to hospital; so far, 20 have died,” he added.

A Premeditated and Coordinated Assault

The sheer scale and planning behind the attack have led many to conclude that the violence was premeditated. Mnyan confirmed that the community had earlier received alerts from Nasarawa State about a possible attack on several communities, including Yelewata, Ukoho, Ortese, Yogbo, and Daudu.

“This was carried out simultaneously,” Mnyan said. “Daudu’s defenders managed to repel the herd, but five soldiers and police personnel died. One was a Captain. We understand that over 300 assailants had camped near Daudu.”

He further explained that land seizure is the motive behind the aggression.

“The assailants seek to seize land. On Yelewata’s east side, Fulanis have occupied farmland and are refusing entry to others. That coordination from east and west was deliberate.”

The community initially planned to transport the charred corpses to the main road in protest but decided against it to avoid further violence.

Farmers and IDPs Among the Dead: 85% Victims Were Already Displaced

Chief Dennis Gbongbon, President of the Association of United Farmers Benue Valley (AUFBV), decried the mass murder and property destruction. He blamed the killings on herdsmen and "Lakurawa bandits."

“Reports indicate over 62 IDPs and farmers were killed in Yelewata; several homes and shops were burnt. As I speak, about 85 percent of victims are IDPs who fled from places such as Antsa, Dooka, Kadarko, and Giza, now hospitalised or missing.”

Gbongbon emphasized that despite displacement, these people were still farming, and terror found them again.

“These IDPs are still farmers at heart. Even when displaced, terror found them. This is a terrifying escalation,” he said.

Benue State Government, Security Agencies React

The Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Internal Security, Chief Joseph Har, confirmed the dual attacks on Yelewata and Daudu.

“I cannot give exact numbers yet as I was not on ground, but two separate incidents happened yesterday in Yelewata and Daudu,” he said.

A military source also confirmed anonymously that two soldiers had died in the attack.

“We lost two military personnel in that attack,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command released a statement via its spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet:

“Some attackers were killed. It is with deep regret that we confirm civilian deaths and injuries. We are actively pursuing the attackers and will continue efforts to protect the public.”

Benue State: A Flashpoint for Violent Conflicts

Benue State has become a recurring hotspot for violent clashes between herders and local farming communities. Over the last decade, thousands of people have been killed across the state, especially in local governments such as Guma, Logo, Agatu, and Gwer West.

The primary cause of the conflict lies in disputes over land and grazing routes. Herders, predominantly Fulani, often clash with farmers who accuse them of encroaching on farmlands and destroying crops. Herders, on the other hand, insist on their right to graze on designated routes—a right first granted under a law dating back to 1965.

This complex and long-running conflict has led to:

• Massive displacement of local communities

• Creation of overcrowded IDP camps

• Food insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt

• Heightened religious and ethnic tensions

Recurring Killings: The Bigger Picture

The latest attack is part of a disturbing trend. Just last month, at least 20 people were killed in Gwer West, another LGA in Benue State. In April, more than 40 people were slaughtered in neighbouring Plateau State.

Tersoo Kula, a spokesperson for the Benue State Governor, told AFP that Friday’s attack lasted roughly two hours and left a trail of destruction:

“A number of houses [were] burnt down,” he said, adding that a government delegation had visited Yelewata and confirmed a lower death toll of 45. However, residents strongly disputed this figure.

Amineh Liapha Hir, a resident of Yelewata, said:

“It is terribly bad, many people have died. It could be more than 100, and many houses were also burnt.”

Another local, Christian Msuega, recounted how he narrowly escaped, only to discover that his sister and brother-in-law were burnt alive.

Amnesty International Calls for Urgent Action

Amnesty International has issued a strong statement condemning the attacks and urging Nigerian authorities to act decisively.

“Amnesty International has been documenting the alarming escalation of attacks across Benue state where gunmen have been on a killing spree with utter impunity,” the organization wrote on X.

“These attacks have been causing massive displacement and may affect food security as majority of the victims are farmers.”

“The Nigerian authorities’ failure to stem the violence is costing people’s lives and livelihoods, and without immediate action many more lives may be lost.”

A Region in Peril: Middle Belt Under Siege

Benue State is part of Nigeria’s Middle Belt—a geographically and culturally diverse region where the largely Muslim north meets the predominantly Christian south. This zone has become a pressure point for ethnic, religious, and economic conflicts, often exacerbated by weak governance and competition over scarce resources.

Conclusion: What’s Next for Benue?

The Yelewata and Daudu massacres once again highlight the urgent need for comprehensive security reforms and long-term solutions to Nigeria’s herder-farmer crisis. While government and military responses often come after the damage has been done, communities are left to bury their dead, rebuild their homes, and wonder when the next attack will strike.

The world is watching, and Benue’s blood-stained soil continues to cry out for justice.