Grief and devastation gripped Guma Local Government Area of Benue State following a coordinated attack by suspected terrorist herdsmen on Yelewata and Daudu communities, which reportedly left over 200 persons dead, including women, children, and security personnel.
The carnage, which occurred late Friday night, came days after residents raised alarm over looming threats. Survivors say the attackers stormed Yelewata from two directions, overwhelming local youths and police personnel before unleashing terror on displaced persons sheltering in market stalls and nearby homes.
“It started last night at about 11 pm when Fulani terrorists came from the Western part of Yelewata and started shooting,” said Mr. Matthew Mnyan, a community leader and former acting Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board. “So the policemen and young people who were there tried to engage them. Suddenly, another group came from the Eastern part of the community, and they overran those trying to resist them.”
Mnyan, holding back tears, described the assault as one of the darkest days in the history of the community.
“They killed our people, poured petrol on the stalls in the market and burnt them. In those stalls, we had people who moved from places like Branch Udei and people displaced from nearby villages, who slept in them because of the proximity of the police and soldiers there. And we learnt no soldier came out to defend the people.”
He continued, “From the names they are putting together, and the number of families and people that were burnt and killed, it’s running to over 200 now. We had a family of 15, some families of 12 — men with their two wives, children, and everyone burnt. It is a terrible sight.”
Mnyan added that dozens were rushed to hospitals with life-threatening injuries, and at least 20 more victims succumbed to their wounds. “I’ve asked them to search for the families and put the names together because some have been burned to ashes.”
While Yelewata burned, a second group of attackers descended on Daudu, but met stiffer resistance from local youths and security operatives. Despite the resistance, casualties were recorded.
“Fortunately, that same day, the ones at Daudu were dislodged, and we learnt five soldiers and police personnel were killed sadly. From the information I received, I think one of them was of the rank of a Captain,” Mnyan stated.
He alleged that more than 300 armed men had camped near Daudu prior to the attack and warned that the killings were part of a calculated attempt to take over ancestral lands in Benue.
“It is heartbreaking. Everybody is aware that the people want to take over Benue State. There are no two ways about it. If you go to the east side of Yelewata, Fulanis have taken over the land and given it to their people to farm. They do not want anyone to return. This was a well-organised, coordinated attack.”
Chief Dennis Gbongbon, President of the Association of United Farmers Benue Valley, also condemned the massacre, attributing the attack to “Lakurawa bandits.”
“We received the very disturbing report of the security threat to Tiv farmers in Yelewata, where suspected Lakurawa bandits and herders killed over 62 IDPs and farmers. Houses were burnt with families beyond imagination,” Gbongbon said. “The death toll shall rise as the search and rescue mission is on. Many were burned in stores. I am right here on the ground. Eighty-five percent of the victims are IDPs who ran from Antsa, Dooka, Kadarko, and Giza areas.”
He added that even in refuge, the terror pursued them. “The IDPs in Yelewata are still farmers. They only ran to take refuge there. Even after being displaced, terror still followed them unabated.”
Reacting to the development, the Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Internal Security, Chief Joseph Har, confirmed the attacks but noted that details were still being compiled.
“I can’t give an exact account of it because I am not there physically, but I am aware that this ugly thing happened yesterday in Yelewata and at the back of Daudu. They were two different attacks. I cannot give the exact numbers because I do not have the details,” he said.
A military source, who declined to be named, confirmed that two soldiers were killed during the exchange.
“We lost two military personnel in that attack, but I cannot tell you more than that,” the source said.
The Benue State Police Command also confirmed the incident through its spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet.
“According to our information, it happened in the early hours of today, where suspected bandits invaded Yelwata town,” the statement read. “The Police and Tactical Teams posted to the town and reinforcement responded swiftly to the attack and engaged the attackers in a fierce exchange, and some of the attackers were killed in the process.
“But it is with great sadness that we report that some individuals lost their lives and others sustained injuries. The Police, however, have not relented and are still in pursuit of the attackers and will continue to keep everyone safe.”
As the death toll continues to rise, residents are left to mourn their loved ones while grappling with the fear of further attacks in a region that has repeatedly been at the receiving end of violence linked to the ongoing herder-farmer crisis.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.
