Dozens Killed as Armed Herdsmen Launch Coordinated Attack on Yelewata Community in Benue State
Written by SpringnewsNG Media Limited – June 14, 2025
Fresh details have emerged following the brutal Saturday morning attack on Yelewata, a community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where suspected armed herdsmen launched a deadly, coordinated assault that left scores of residents dead and numerous properties destroyed.
According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers stormed Yelewata in the early hours of the morning, dividing themselves into three tactical groups to invade the town from multiple entry points. The attack reportedly began through Tse Ate, a footpath leading to Agugu Igbaakombo, and a second route situated behind the community market square.
Residents said the assailants opened fire in a calculated manner, taking turns to shoot in different directions in order to confuse locals and destabilize security efforts. Despite resistance from local youths and security personnel, the attackers overwhelmed defenders with their sheer numbers and strategic coordination.
In a statement issued by Comrade Joseph Apahar Joo, Media and Publicity Officer for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) unit in Benue State, it was confirmed that the third wave of attackers specifically targeted shops and homes where many villagers were asleep.
“Those who tried to flee were hunted down and killed. Others could not escape because the attackers doused doors with petrol and set the buildings ablaze,” Comrade Joo stated.
The assailants razed several homes and businesses, killing residents who were trapped inside. Farm produce, food supplies, and personal belongings were also destroyed in the inferno.
Yelewata, known for its history of organized resistance against violent invasions, is now reeling from one of the deadliest attacks in its history. Local authorities have yet to release an official death toll, but the scale of destruction has sent shockwaves across Benue State.
Security forces have since been deployed to the area, and investigations are ongoing. The attack adds to the growing list of violent incidents linked to suspected herdsmen in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, reigniting calls for stronger community protection and federal intervention.
Stay with SpringnewsNG Media for updates on this developing story.
