Yelwata, Benue State, Nigeria – A horrific late-night assault by suspected herdsmen on the Yelwata community in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State has resulted in a devastating loss of life, with dozens reportedly burnt alive and many others shot dead. Amnesty International has placed the grim death toll at over 100, branding the incident as one of the deadliest in recent memory.
The brutal attack, which unfolded between Friday night and the early hours of Saturday, saw the assailants operate in a coordinated manner. One group reportedly stormed the local police station, while a second group systematically moved from house to house, executing residents and setting homes ablaze.
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the massacre. A resident recounted, “In this house, 40 people were killed; 35 died in the next one. The police station was attacked too.” Among the victims was a local pharmacist, whose brother tragically lost 15 family members in the onslaught. Multiple other families were reportedly decimated, with some losing as many as five relatives. The attackers also destroyed over 200 bags of rice, estimated to be worth around ₦25 million, adding economic devastation to the human tragedy.
Graphic footage of the aftermath, shared by social media influencer Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, depicted the horrifying scene: charred remains of children and adults, smouldering homes, and farmlands reduced to ashes. “What my eyes have seen, my mouth cannot speak,” Otse remarked in the video, adding, “These are children that were massacred here, burnt to ashes.”
A local resident interviewed in the video described the terrifying sequence of events: “We were indoors because of the rain. Around 10:45 p.m., we heard gunshots at the police station. Then the second group began entering homes, breaking doors and shooting people.” The resident lamented the lack of assistance: “There was no help. We thought the government would protect us, but we were left alone. Our community youth tried their best. The attackers didn’t leave until around 2 a.m.” The community is now grappling with the immense grief and destruction left in the wake of this unprovoked assault.
Source: http://thepressradio.com
