Benue governor reveals origin of herdsmen, confirms 59 killed

DDM News

Tragedy struck the Yelewata community of Benue State following a brutal attack by suspected armed herdsmen that left 59 people dead.

The attack occurred in Yelewata, a town near the border between Benue and Nasarawa states, throwing families and residents into mourning.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Governor Hyacinth Alia confirmed the death toll during a press briefing on Sunday at the Benue State Government House.

He revealed that the number of casualties was based on a joint headcount by security operatives and relatives of the victims.

Among the dead were operatives of the Nigerian military and civil defence corps, who reportedly died while defending the community.

Governor Alia disclosed that the attackers came into Benue from neighbouring Nasarawa State.

He stated that his administration was working closely with Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, who provided intelligence on the movement of the invaders.

The governor also confirmed that the attack affected Nasarawa as well, with one woman reportedly killed on that side of the border.

He made these revelations while receiving a report from the panel of inquiry investigating militia violence in the Sankera region.

According to the governor, the findings of the panel will be transmitted to appropriate security and judicial authorities for further action.

He added that those identified in the report will be thoroughly investigated, and all efforts will be directed towards restoring peace and security in the region.

Governor Alia expressed deep sorrow over the incident and promised to reinforce security across the state’s volatile border communities.

Meanwhile, the global Christian community has also reacted to the carnage in Benue State.

Pope Leo XIV described the incident as a “terrible massacre,” condemning the cruelty with which civilians were killed.

Delivering his message before the Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the Pope expressed particular concern for Christian farming communities across Benue.

He noted that these rural populations have suffered repeated violence and called for divine intervention.

“We pray especially for the rural Christian communities of Benue, who have been relentless victims of violence,” Pope Leo stated.

He offered prayers for the restoration of justice, security, and lasting peace across Nigeria.

The killings have sparked outrage in Benue, leading to mass protests in the state capital, Makurdi.

Hundreds of angry youths stormed the streets on Sunday morning, demanding swift action from both state and federal governments.

Protesters converged on the Wurukum food basket roundabout from 8 a.m., carrying placards and chanting slogans condemning the government’s inaction.

They decried what they described as systematic neglect of farming communities suffering unending herder attacks.

The protest took a more dramatic turn with the arrival of controversial social media influencer, Martin Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan.

Otse, known for his vocal stance on insecurity, joined the demonstrators and addressed the crowd in a passionate speech.

He called on the government to deploy full military action to protect rural Nigerians and hold those behind the attacks accountable.

The online activist also took to his social media handles to broadcast live updates of the protest, attracting thousands of viewers across Nigeria and abroad.

Security agencies were seen patrolling Makurdi to maintain calm, while government officials attempted to engage the protesters for dialogue.

This latest massacre has renewed calls for a comprehensive security strategy to address the farmer-herder crisis that has plagued Benue and parts of the Middle Belt.

Benue State has long been one of Nigeria’s hotspots for violent clashes between farming communities and migrating herdsmen.

The conflict, which is often fuelled by disputes over land, grazing rights, and ethno-religious tensions, has claimed thousands of lives over the years.

Successive administrations have failed to end the cycle of violence, leaving vulnerable communities exposed to recurring attacks.

Many residents of Benue have accused the federal government of downplaying the crisis and ignoring cries for help from affected communities.

The recent attack in Yelewata is yet another grim reminder of the fragile security situation in Nigeria’s rural belt.

Human rights groups have also condemned the killings, calling for a national emergency response to the herdsmen crisis.

Civil society organizations, including the Benue Indigenous Council, issued statements demanding justice and full compensation for victims’ families.

They warned that failure to act decisively could lead to the radicalization of youth in affected areas.

Meanwhile, opposition politicians have criticized Governor Alia’s administration for what they describe as a “reactionary approach” to security.

They insist that the killings could have been prevented if the state government had acted on earlier warnings of militant herders moving through the border.

In response, the governor’s aides have defended his record, citing ongoing collaboration with security agencies and investment in rural surveillance.

They emphasized the importance of cross-state collaboration, especially given the porous nature of Nigeria’s internal borders.

As investigations into the attack continue, displaced residents of Yelewata are seeking refuge in nearby towns and makeshift IDP camps.

Many survivors have lost family members, homes, and farmland in the attack, compounding an already dire humanitarian crisis in the region.

Churches and NGOs are now mobilizing relief efforts to support displaced families with food, shelter, and trauma counselling.

Stakeholders are calling for an urgent national security summit to discuss sustainable solutions to the farmer-herder conflict and other emerging threats.

The Yelewata massacre underscores the deepening crisis of rural insecurity in Nigeria and the urgent need for structural reforms in policing and land use policy.

Until concrete action is taken, communities across Benue and the Middle Belt remain on edge, caught between government promises and the persistent shadow of death.

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