A brutal overnight attack on Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State has left more than 100 people dead, with entire families wiped out and widespread destruction reported.
According to Amnesty International, the massacre ranks among the deadliest in recent years. The killings occurred between late Friday and early Saturday, when suspected herdsmen stormed the area in a coordinated assault.
Witnesses said the attackers split into two groups—one targeted the local police station, while the other moved from house to house, executing residents and setting homes on fire.
“In this house alone, 40 were killed. The next house had 35 bodies,” a resident told reporters. One of the victims was a local pharmacist; his brother reportedly lost 15 family members in the assault. Many other families were devastated, with some losing up to five relatives in the carnage.
The attackers also destroyed over 200 bags of rice valued at approximately ₦25 million, further compounding the community’s loss.
Graphic footage shared by social media activist Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, captured the horrifying aftermath: charred bodies of children and adults, smouldering ruins, and farmland reduced to ashes.
“What my eyes have seen, my mouth cannot say,” he said in the video. “These were children, burnt to death right here.”
As residents mourn their dead and count their losses, there is growing pressure on authorities to investigate the massacre and provide justice for the victims.
