“Kai, God You Do Me Strong Thing”: Woman Cries Out As Mother and Sisters Are K!lled in Deadly Yelewata Attack by Suspected Herdsmen

 

Over 100 Feared Dead as Yelewata Community in Benue is Thrown Into Mourning

In a heartbreaking development from Benue State, Nigeria, a woman named Lucy Tsegba has taken to social media to grieve the devastating loss of her mother and sisters, who were reportedly m*urdered during a violent attack on Yelewata, a community located in Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. The attack, which occurred on Friday, June 14, 2025, was allegedly carried out by suspected herdsmen and has left residents in shock, mourning, and fear for their safety.

The attack took place in Yelewata, a town that lies on the border between Benue and Nasarawa States, a region that has experienced multiple waves of violence over the past decade. Survivors and eyewitnesses say the herdsmen came with deadly force, setting homes ablaze and killing men, women, and children indiscriminately.

“Go well till we meet again”

On Sunday, June 15, Lucy Tsegba confirmed the tragic news of her family’s death in a Facebook post that has since gone viral and touched thousands of Nigerians.

"Oh, My beloved mum. And beautiful sisters... go well till we meet again. I love you but God loves you more. I will forever miss you... I can't stop crying. Kai God u do me strong thing," she wrote.

Her post has become a symbol of the deep emotional wounds inflicted on families and communities by the continuous cycle of violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

Over 100 Lives Reportedly Lost

Although official figures are still being compiled, local sources and community leaders say that at least 107 people were k!lled in the Yelewata attack. The number of injured is still being verified, but reports suggest dozens more have been taken to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention. Some of the survivors are said to be in critical condition.

A resident who escaped the attack told reporters that the scale of the destruction was beyond imagination.

“They burnt people alive—husbands, wives, and even small children. Entire families were wiped out. This is not just an attack. It is a massacre,” the resident said.

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Among the Victims

Perhaps even more painful is the fact that many of the victims were Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who had previously fled violence in nearby communities such as Antsa, Dooka, Kadarko, Udei, and Giza. These people had relocated to Yelewata in search of safety, believing that the presence of security checkpoints near the border would provide them some protection.

“They thought Yelewata was safer,” said one local official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “There are police and military presence along that axis, but it was not enough to stop what happened on Friday.”

Properties Burnt, Families Destroyed

Eyewitnesses say the attackers came in large numbers and were heavily armed. They reportedly doused roadside stalls, homes, and makeshift shelters with petrol, setting them on fire and ensuring that no one inside survived. Some residents tried to escape into the bush, but many were caught and killed.

“It was a coordinated attack,” a youth leader from Guma LGA told NaijaRush. “They came with the intention to kill and destroy. They didn’t just shoot people; they made sure whole houses were burnt down with people inside.”

Silence from Government Sparks Outrage

As of the time of this report, no official statement has been released by either the Benue State Government or the Federal Government of Nigeria regarding the Yelewata massacre. This lack of response has fueled public anger, especially on social media, where users have called out the government’s failure to protect its citizens.

“We are tired of these killings,” said a Benue-based civil society group. “Every time there is an attack, the government sends condolences but does nothing to stop it from happening again. How many more people need to die before something changes?”

Benue: A History of Bloodshed

Benue State has long been a flashpoint in Nigeria’s ongoing farmer-herder conflict. Over the past decade, hundreds of communities have been attacked, and thousands of people have been displaced. The root causes of the violence are complex, ranging from disputes over land and grazing routes to ethnic and religious tensions.

In 2018, the state passed an Anti-Open Grazing Law to restrict herders from moving cattle across farmlands, a move that was both praised and criticized. Since then, attacks have continued, sometimes escalating to full-blown communal clashes.

Security Checkpoints Failed to Protect

Yelewata, located just across the border from Nasarawa, has always been considered a strategic location. Its proximity to security posts had made it a temporary haven for those fleeing previous violence. But that perception was shattered on Friday, when the town came under attack despite these checkpoints.

Residents now question the effectiveness of the security forces stationed nearby.

“What is the use of checkpoints if they can’t stop people from being killed like animals?” asked a grieving elder from Yelewata. “Where were the police and soldiers when we needed them most?”

National and International Attention Needed

Activists and humanitarian groups are now calling on both the Federal Government and international human rights organizations to take urgent action. The people of Benue, they say, cannot be left to face this violence alone.

“This is a humanitarian crisis,” said a representative of a Benue-based NGO. “Over 100 people dead in a single day—this should be front-page news. We demand an investigation and we demand justice.”

Final Thoughts: "Kai, God You Do Me Strong Thing"

Lucy Tsegba’s pain is shared by many other Nigerians who have lost loved ones to violent attacks across the country. Her words—“Kai God u do me strong thing”—reflect the helplessness and grief that come when people feel abandoned by the very systems meant to protect them.

As Nigerians continue to demand justice, accountability, and long-term peace, the story of Yelewata must not be forgotten. The 107 lives lost, including Lucy’s mother and sisters, deserve more than just tears and Facebook tributes—they deserve a country where such tragedies are not allowed to happen again.