Gunmen Kill Three In Renewed Assault On Benue’s Yelwata Community.
Suspected armed herdsmen launched a fresh attack on Yelwata in Benue State, Nigeria, on Monday morning, resulting in the deaths of three residents and injuries to at least three others. The incident, which occurred around 7am, has reignited fears among locals still recovering from a devastating raid just two months earlier.
The assault is part of coordinated attacks that also targeted the nearby Udei community, where gun battles ensued at approximately 5am. Police tactical units engaged the assailants, described as suspected herdsmen bandits, forcing them to retreat after fierce exchanges of fire. The injured were rushed to Benue State University Teaching Hospital for treatment, while some residents remain unaccounted for amid the chaos.
Eyewitnesses and community leaders reported that the gunmen struck without warning, shooting indiscriminately and prompting immediate outrage. In response, furious residents, led primarily by women, blocked the federal highway linking Makurdi to Abuja, placing the bodies of the deceased on the road to protest the ongoing insecurity. Demonstrators demanded the withdrawal of soldiers stationed in the area, accusing them of failing to provide adequate protection, and called for urgent evacuation to Makurdi, the state capital. One protester expressed the community’s despair, saying, “They should take us to Makurdi because the government cannot protect us.”
However, planned further protests in Yelwata were later shelved following discussions between community representatives, state officials, and security commanders. The Security Adviser to the Benue State Governor and the Chairman of Guma Local Government Area visited the scene to assess the situation.
This latest violence comes barely two months after a horrific midnight attack on 13 June, when gunmen, believed to be herders, stormed Yelwata and killed an estimated 200 people, including internally displaced persons, with many victims burned alive in their homes. That incident displaced thousands and highlighted the persistent farmer-herder conflicts plaguing Benue’s north-central region.
Benue State Police Commissioner Emenari Ifeanyi condemned the attacks, offering condolences to the bereaved families and reaffirming the force’s dedication to tackling criminality. He praised the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for deploying additional tactical teams and resources, and urged residents to provide timely intelligence while remaining law-abiding.
Community leaders have renewed calls for decisive government action to address the root causes of the unrest, emphasising that residents are living in perpetual fear. As investigations continue, the incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures in vulnerable areas to prevent further bloodshed.
