More than 100 people have been feared dead following a series of brutal attacks by suspected herdsmen on Yelewata and Daudu communities in Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.
The assault, which began late Friday night and continued into the early hours of Saturday, came just 48 hours after similar attacks in Mtswenem and Akondotyough Bawa communities in Makurdi LGA, where at least 25 people were killed.
Yelewata, a border town between Benue and Nasarawa states, lies less than 40 minutes from the state capital, Makurdi.
According to a local resident who spoke anonymously, the attackers stormed Yelewata around 10 p.m. from two directions, overwhelming community youths and security personnel before unleashing violence on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) sheltering in market stalls and nearby homes.
While the assault on Yelewata raged, another group of armed men launched a simultaneous attack on Daudu, also in Guma LGA. However, they met stiff resistance from local youths and security forces. The confrontation reportedly led to the deaths of several security personnel, including a senior officer.
A visibly shaken community leader, Mr. Matthew Mnyan—former acting chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB)—described the attack as one of the most horrifying incidents in the state’s recent history.
“It began at about 11 p.m. when Fulani terrorists launched an attack from the western part of Yelewata,” Mnyan said. “Policemen and youths tried to fight back, but then another group came from the east and overwhelmed them. They killed our people, set the market on fire, and burned entire families in their homes.”
He revealed that early reports indicated over 200 people may have been killed or burnt to death. “We have families of 15, 12, and more wiped out entirely—husbands, wives, children—all gone. It’s a horrific scene,” he lamented.
Mnyan added that intelligence reports had warned of impending attacks targeting multiple communities including Yelewata, Ukoho, Ortese, Yogbo, and Daudu, noting that over 300 suspected terrorists were believed to be camped near Daudu prior to the onslaught.
He accused the attackers of executing a calculated campaign to seize land across Benue State. “Fulanis have already occupied parts of Yelewata and barred locals from returning. This is about land grabbing—it’s deliberate, coordinated, and ruthless,” he said.
The President of the Association of United Farmers Benue Valley (AUFBV), Chief Dennis Gbongbon, confirmed receiving distressing reports from the affected areas. He blamed the attacks on suspected Lakurawa bandits and herders, citing the deaths of over 62 IDPs and widespread destruction of homes.
Reacting to the tragedy, Chief Joseph Har, Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Internal Security, confirmed the attacks but said detailed casualty figures were still being compiled.
A spokesperson for Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Lt. Zubair Ahmad, said the military was still verifying the incident.
Meanwhile, Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the attack, stating that police tactical teams had responded promptly. “There was a fierce exchange of fire, and unfortunately, both attackers and some civilians lost their lives,” she said, though she did not specify the number of casualties.
Despite the tragedy, she assured residents that police operations were ongoing to track down and neutralize the attackers.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed deep sorrow over the killings, calling the situation in Benue a “national emergency” requiring urgent and decisive action.
In a statement, Atiku said, “These attacks—yet again targeting defenseless communities—highlight the deepening security crisis in our country. It’s time to confront the human cost of inaction.”
He offered condolences to the bereaved families and urged both federal and state authorities to intensify efforts to halt the wave of violence sweeping through the region.
