Yelwata: Herdsmen Kill Three in Fresh Assault

Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State plunged into fear and anger on Monday morning of August 11, after suspected armed herdsmen launched a deadly attack.

The attackers stormed the area around 7 a.m., firing sporadically and killing three residents while injuring three others.

In reaction, enraged residents blocked the Makurdi–Abuja federal highway using the bodies of the deceased.

This protest halted all vehicular movement on the crucial route for several hours, amplifying the community’s distress.

Achii Mathias, a youth leader in Yelwata, confirmed the attack.

He lamented that his community faced yet another violent siege.

“The Fulani again attacked our community this morning around 7 a.m., shooting sporadically.

They killed three people and injured three others. Currently, the Security Adviser to the governor and the Chairman of Guma LGA are on the ground assessing the situation,” Mathias said, according to PUNCH.

However, when contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Catherine Udeme Edet, denied having any information about the incident.

She promised to share the official report once it became available.

This attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have plagued Yelwata and the wider Benue State.

For years, the state has witnessed deadly clashes between farming communities and armed herders, resulting in loss of lives and destruction.

Notably, Yelwata was the scene of one of the most devastating attacks in recent memory.

On June 13, gunmen believed to be herders raided the community overnight, killing at least 200 people.

Furthermore, just last month, several communities across Gwer West, Logo, and Ukum Local Government Areas suffered brutal attacks.

These assaults killed dozens and displaced thousands from their homes.

Security experts and human rights groups have repeatedly urged the federal government to strengthen security measures in Benue.

They warn that the ongoing cycle of violence is pushing rural communities closer to collapse, threatening their very survival.

The residents of Yelwata and other vulnerable communities continue to call for urgent action to restore peace and protect lives in the region.

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