Tears in Benue: Over 150 Killed in Fresh Attacks as Communities Cry for Help

Benue State has once again been plunged into mourning following a wave of coordinated attacks that have left over 150 people dead in the Guma Local Government Area and other rural communities. The violence, blamed on armed herders, has triggered renewed outrage and deepened fears among residents already weary from years of bloodshed.

According to eyewitness reports, heavily armed men stormed the village of Yelewata over the weekend, opening fire on residents and setting homes ablaze. Survivors described harrowing scenes as families fled into nearby bushes while bullets flew through the air.

“They came at night, shooting everyone in sight,” said a distraught survivor. “We lost children, women, old people… our entire village is gone.”

In total, over 150 people have been confirmed dead, with dozens more still missing. Similar attacks were also reported in Aondona, Tyolaha, and Tse-Ubiam, leaving communities devastated.

Former Senate President David Mark condemned the killings, warning that Benue residents may be forced to defend themselves if the federal government continues to fail in its responsibility to protect them.

“This is no longer acceptable. If the government cannot secure our lives, we will be left with no choice but to defend ourselves,” he said.

The Sultan of Sokoto, through the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), also condemned the bloodshed, calling on security agencies to stop reacting after the damage has been done.

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has met with President Bola Tinubu to seek urgent intervention. However, many residents say they have lost faith in promises and want action, not words.

The attacks are part of the ongoing conflict between herders and farmers over land and grazing rights—a decades-long crisis that has turned large parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt into war zones.

As families bury their dead and displaced persons seek refuge, the cries for justice grow louder. Many are asking: How many more must die before something is done?