Nigeria: Muslim militants kill 200 in violent jihadist attacks in Benue state

Image: Jihad Watch

About 200 people — including five security personnel, internally displaced persons (IDPs), children, and women — have been killed in a bloody attack by suspected terrorist herdsmen in Yelewata and Daudu communities in Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.

The attack came just days after community members raised alarm upon receiving credible information about a possible impending assault by the armed herders. Despite these warnings, the attackers struck under the cover of darkness, causing immense destruction and chaos, and leaving many more injured.

Witnesses say the assailants stormed Yelewata from two directions — overwhelming both the community’s youths and the small team of police officers who tried to fend them off — before turning their weapons directly toward defenseless civilians. The attackers opened fire indiscriminately, killing many and setting houses and market stalls ablaze, where internally displaced families had been taking refuge. Among the victims were children and toddlers, many of whom were mercilessly butchered alongside their families.

While the attack was underway in Yelewata, a separate group of armed herders besieged Daudu, another community in Guma LGA. There, a brave resistance by community youths and security personnel resulted in the deaths of some members of the Security team, adding to the growing tragedy.

A community leader in Yelewata and former acting chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr. Matthew Mnyam, recounted the incident with visible distress: “It started last night at about 11 pm when the Fulani terrorists came in from the west side of Yelewata and opened fire. The policemen and the youths tried to resist their attack. Suddenly, another group came from the east side and overran those putting up resistance.”

He further explained, “They killed our people, poured petrol on the market stalls, and set them on fire. Inside these structures, there were families from nearby villages, alongside displaced persons who had come there to be close to the Police and soldiers for refuge. We have reports that not a single soldier came forward to aid or protect the people.”

“As of now, from the names we’re putting together, the number of those killed is over 200. They attacked houses, market spaces, and sheltered families. Some families of 15 perished together; there were families of 12 — a man, his two wives, children — all burned alive. It’s a catastrophic and unimaginable tragedy for the people of Yelewata, Daudu, Guma, and the entire state of Benue.”

The incident underscores growing concerns over the escalating violence by armed herders in the region, fueling humanitarian crises and growing insecurity in many vulnerable communities.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)