Deadly attack in Benue State claims over 100 lives

Summary

• Suspected armed herders attacked Yelewata, Guma LGA, Benue State, Nigeria, killing over 100, mostly IDPs, in a late-night assault on June 14, 2025
• Attackers burned houses, leaving entire families dead, some burnt beyond recognition, with ongoing search and rescue efforts
• The group condemned the violence, urging authorities to halt the escalating bloodshed and prosecute perpetrators

Makurdi — Yelewata, a community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria, was struck by a devastating attack in the early hours of June 14, 2025, leaving over 100 people feared dead.

Suspected armed herders, possibly linked to Lakurawa bandits, invaded the town around 10 PM Friday and continued their assault until 1 AM Saturday. The majority of victims were internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had sought refuge in the area.

Local sources, including Chief Dennis Denen Gbongbon of the Association of United Farmers Benue Valley, reported that about 85% of those killed were IDPs, with entire families burned alive in their homes, some beyond recognition.

The attack also left several injured and others missing, with fears the death toll could rise as search and rescue operations continue.

Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the attack, describing it as part of an “alarming escalation” of violence in Benue State and calling for urgent action to stop the bloodshed and bring perpetrators to justice.

The Benue State Police confirmed the incident, noting that tactical teams engaged the attackers, killing some, though casualties were reported on both sides.

In a separate but related incident in Daudu, also in Guma LGA, two soldiers were killed. Official government sources reported a lower death toll of around 45, highlighting discrepancies in casualty figures.

This attack adds to the ongoing wave of violence in Benue, where over 2600 deaths were recorded between January 2023 and February 2024, largely due to conflicts between herders and farmers, often fueled by ethnic and religious tensions.