By Okafor Joseph, Editor | June 17, 2025 | SpringnewsNG Media Limited

Horror in Yelewata: Herdsmen Massacre Leaves Over 300 Dead, Entire Benue Community Reduced to Ashes

The once peaceful farming community of Yelewata in Benue State, Nigeria, was plunged into unimaginable horror between Friday night, June 13, and Saturday morning, June 14, 2025, when suspected armed herdsmen launched a devastating attack that left over 300 residents dead, hundreds of homes razed, and survivors reeling from grief and loss.

Located along the Abuja-Makurdi highway, Yelewata has become the latest symbol of unchecked violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, following what survivors describe as the worst massacre in Benue State’s recent history.

Hell Unleashed: Night of Blood and Fire

Witnesses recount that the attack began at about 10 PM, with armed assailants storming the town under heavy rain. The attackers, allegedly from neighboring Nasarawa State, infiltrated the community through known routes and struck strategic locations where villagers had taken nightly refuge due to earlier threats.

“We were aware of a looming attack,” said Franc Utoo, a Yelewata native, lawyer, and politician who lost over 33 family members and more than 50 political supporters. “People were no longer sleeping in their homes. Schools, markets, and churches became makeshift shelters. That’s where the attackers struck.”

Utoo confirmed that the attackers had split into multiple groups, overwhelming security personnel and causing mass casualties. “They targeted areas where people were concentrated — RCM Primary School, the local Catholic Church, and the Yelewata New Market — burning people alive while they slept.”

The Victims: Families Wiped Out

Among the victims was Pharmacist Matthew Iormba, a brilliant graduate who had just completed his housemanship and returned home to share the good news. He was burnt alive alongside family members.

Also killed were Tsegba Lucy’s mother and five siblings. “God, you do me strong thing,” the young survivor sobbed.

A local footballer, Agande, returned from a trip to find that 12 members of his family, including both parents, had perished in the fire.

Farm produce, photographs, schoolbooks, cooking pots — everything was reduced to ashes.

Death Toll Disputed: Government Accused of Cover-Up

While the Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia announced a death toll of 59, survivors and community leaders insist that over 300 people were killed, accusing the government of deliberately downplaying the massacre.

“You can’t tell us only 59 people died when one family alone lost 40 members,” said Samson, a youth leader from Daudu.

George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, admitted to over 200 deaths, but locals say even that number underrepresents the scale of the tragedy.

Federal Response: Reprisal Narrative Sparks Outrage

The Federal Government’s response has sparked nationwide and international backlash, especially after Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga described the massacre as a “reprisal attack.”

“That was the most insensitive statement I’ve ever seen,” said Franc Utoo. “Nowhere in his statement was there mention of arresting the killers or supporting victims. Instead, he addressed us like we were warring factions.”

Governor Alia echoed similar sentiments on Channels TV, suggesting the attack was retaliation for previous clashes.

Silence and Delays: A Government Missing in Action

Critics have condemned Governor Alia’s 48-hour silence, arguing that his delayed response worsened community anguish.

“He should have come to mourn with us. But instead, he kept quiet and later trivialized our loss,” lamented Tever Japhet, a community leader.

When state officials finally visited, residents said they made only brief appearances and offered no support.

Voices of Protest Silenced

Protests in Makurdi led by youths and activists, including social media figure Vincent Otse (aka VeryDarkMan), were met with tear gas and arrests. Fourteen people were reportedly detained for demanding justice and accountability.

Global Outcry: Pope, Activists Condemn the Killings

International condemnation followed quickly. In a Sunday address, Pope Leo XIV referred to the event as a “terrible massacre,” calling for justice, peace, and protection for Christian communities in Nigeria.

Prominent voices from Nigeria’s civil society, entertainment industry, and religious groups have also denounced the government’s inaction and demanded immediate intervention.

Victim List Grows Longer

A partial list released by Franc Utoo contains over 120 names, with many more unaccounted for. Some bodies remain unburied, and others are missing altogether — presumed dead in the flames.

Yelewata’s Future: A Town Gripped by Fear

The survivors of Yelewata are still burying the dead, while many continue searching for missing family members. Fear of another attack lingers, and trauma grips the community.

The question on everyone’s lips remains: Will Yelewata ever recover?

For now, it stands as a graveyard of sorrow — and a glaring indictment of a system that failed to protect its most vulnerable citizens.

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