Herdsmen terrorists strike Yelewata, leaving trail of death and grief

DDM News

A wave of sorrow swept through the quiet community of Yelewata in Benue State on Friday night following a brutal assault by suspected armed herdsmen.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the tragic incident unfolded at about 10:00 pm, as gunmen descended on the community, unleashing terror that left several residents dead and many others nursing injuries.

According to preliminary information gathered by Saturday morning, no fewer than 16 individuals sustained varying degrees of injury during the assault.

The full extent of the fatalities remains uncertain, as security agencies and emergency responders continue combing through the affected areas to assess the situation.

Distress calls from the community prompted the swift mobilisation of personnel from the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

However, en route to Yelewata, the security convoy was intercepted and ambushed by the assailants near Daudu, a neighbouring area along their path.

The ambush proved fatal, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and one Civil Defence operative.

“These brave men paid the ultimate price in service to our people,” a distraught community leader remarked.

“Their sacrifice will never be forgotten by Yelewata and the entire Guma Local Government Area.”

Eyewitnesses who escaped the attack said the gunmen arrived in large numbers and opened fire indiscriminately, targeting both men and women, young and old.

Medical authorities at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Makurdi confirmed that multiple survivors were receiving emergency care.

Doctors have issued an urgent call for blood donations to aid the victims, many of whom are in critical condition.

“Some of the patients need immediate transfusions,” a BSUTH nurse said.

“We urge members of the public and NGOs to come forward and assist.”

The attack is the latest in a string of violent confrontations between suspected herders and farming communities across Benue State, often rooted in disputes over land and grazing rights.

Benue, known as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” has experienced recurring bloodshed over the years due to these deep-seated conflicts.

Security agencies in the state have pledged to intensify patrols and restore calm to affected areas.

Meanwhile, civil society groups have renewed calls for the federal government to implement sustainable solutions to the lingering security crisis in the region.

Local residents, already traumatised by past invasions, say the Yelewata attack has reopened painful wounds.

“My heartfelt condolences go to the families of the victims,” said a concerned resident who chose not to circulate disturbing images from the scene.

“This is not just about numbers. These were human lives—mothers, fathers, children.”

Survivors are recounting harrowing tales of narrow escapes and the haunting sounds of gunshots echoing through the night.

“I ran into the bush barefoot with my children,” said one woman who spoke under anonymity for fear of reprisals.

“We slept under trees until we were sure the attackers had left.”

In the aftermath of the assault, numerous homes were burned down, and farmlands destroyed, further compounding the displacement crisis already plaguing the region.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Benue are already stretched thin, hosting thousands of citizens forced to flee their communities due to insecurity.

Stakeholders have stressed the need for both immediate humanitarian aid and long-term conflict resolution mechanisms.

Human rights activists say federal silence on such killings fosters a culture of impunity.

“The lives of citizens in the Middle Belt cannot be treated as expendable,” said one activist.

“Government must take decisive action now.”

As families bury their loved ones and survivors battle for their lives, the community of Yelewata remains in mourning and fear.

Calls for a judicial panel of inquiry have begun to gain momentum among lawmakers and advocacy groups in the state.

For now, residents are focused on survival and healing, even as the haunting memories of that Friday night persist.

DDM will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as authorities release further details.

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