A Night of Horror: Yelewata Burnt to Ashes
On the night of June 13, 2025, the quiet farming community of Yelewata, Benue State, Nigeria, became the site of one of the deadliest attacks in the state’s recent history. What was once a thriving settlement along the Abuja–Makurdi highway turned into a graveyard overnight.
Residents were jolted from their sleep by the sound of gunfire, screaming, and burning buildings, as suspected armed herdsmen invaded the town. By dawn on June 14, over 300 people were killed, hundreds of homes destroyed, and the town reduced to rubble and sorrow.
A Coordinated Massacre
Eyewitnesses and survivors describe the attack as highly coordinated and premeditated. Community members had received intelligence of a possible invasion days earlier, especially after tensions escalated between herders and local farmers.
Weeks before the massacre, traditional leaders across the Tiv and Idoma regions had issued an ultimatum for herders to vacate farmlands due to ongoing conflicts and destruction of crops. But the warnings went unheeded.
Survivors said people had started sleeping in schools, markets, and churches out of fear. These became death traps. According to Franc Utoo, a native and politician from Yelewata, “They targeted the RCM Primary School, the church, and the new market — areas where many had gathered for safety.”
Stories of Heartbreak and Loss
Pharmacist Matthew Iormba, a recent graduate who had returned home to celebrate, was burnt alive with his family.
Tsegba Lucy, a young girl, watched as her mother and five siblings were killed in their home.
Agande, a local footballer, returned from Makurdi to find his entire family of 10 burned beyond recognition.
Farm produce, family heirlooms, and even school books were turned to ash. Survivors now walk the streets among charred bodies and collapsing rooftops, struggling to bury their dead.
Official Silence, Denials, and Underreporting
Shockingly, the Benue State Government, led by Governor Hyacinth Alia, reported only 59 deaths. This figure was met with widespread outrage and rejection from local leaders and survivors who insist over 300 lives were lost.
“A family lost over 40 members in a single night,” said Samson, a youth leader from Daudu. “We counted at least 132 identified bodies. And that’s just from the people we knew.”
Federal officials, including SGF George Akume, acknowledged over 200 deaths. However, President Bola Tinubu's spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, described the tragedy as a reprisal attack a statement that has drawn fierce criticism.
“This wasn’t a war. We were ambushed and slaughtered,” said Utoo. “Where’s the justice? Where’s the sympathy?”
A Missing Government Response
Governor Alia's delayed response, nearly 48 hours after the attack, has left many in Yelewata feeling abandoned. While the Police Commissioner and Deputy Governor made brief appearances, no tangible support was offered to survivors.
When peaceful protests broke out in Makurdi — led by prominent activist VeryDarkMan (Vincent Otse) security forces responded with tear gas and arrests.
“All we asked was, ‘Why are we being killed with impunity?’” said one protester. “Is it a crime to demand protection and justice?”
Global Outcry and a Cry for Justice
The massacre has triggered national and international outrage. From celebrities and civil society groups to international figures, the world is watching.
From Rome, Pope Leo XIV condemned the killings, calling for peace and protection for rural Christian communities in Nigeria.
“I am praying for security and peace in Nigeria, especially for those affected by violence in Benue,” the Pope said.
The Full List of Some Victims in Yelewata
A total of 127 names have been publicly identified by community leader Franc Utoo. These include entire families like the Iormbas, Tsegbas, Doogas, Aondoanas, and Orshios wiped out in a single night.
What’s Next for Yelewata?
Today, Yelewata is a ghost town. Survivors are still searching for missing loved ones, some burying bodies in shallow graves, and others fleeing to IDP camps with no idea what the future holds.
The question remains: Will Yelewata ever recover?
Will the government ever deliver justice? Will the perpetrators be arrested? Or will this massacre become yet another statistic in Nigeria’s long list of unpunished tragedies?
Conclusion: One Attack Too Many – Yelewata’s Cry for Justice
The massacre in Yelewata is not just another grim headline it is a haunting reminder of the unchecked violence plaguing many rural communities in Nigeria. Over 300 innocent lives were lost in a single night, and yet the response from authorities has been marked by silence, denial, and insensitivity. Survivors mourn loved ones, sift through ashes, and bury generations of history, all while grappling with a future that seems more uncertain than ever.
This tragedy highlights a disturbing pattern: lack of timely intervention, underreporting by authorities, and a growing culture of impunity. If the cries from Yelewata go unheard, then the blood spilled will not just stain the soil it will also stain the conscience of a nation that failed its people.
What the people of Yelewata demand is not just sympathy, but action justice for the murdered, relief for the displaced, and firm policies that guarantee protection for all, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or geography.
Without justice and honest reckoning, Yelewata—and communities like it may never heal. And Nigeria risks losing not just its people, but also its soul.
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