Bloodbath at Benue-Nasarawa Border: 59 Killed in Suspected Herdsmen Attack
A wave of horror swept across Benue State over the weekend as Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia confirmed the gruesome killing of 59 people in a brutal attack on Yelewata, a border community between Benue and Nasarawa States. The assault, allegedly carried out by suspected herdsmen, has plunged the state into mourning and sparked renewed outrage over unrelenting rural violence.
Governor Alia, addressing journalists on Sunday from the Government House in Makurdi, disclosed that the grim death toll was confirmed through a joint verification exercise conducted by security personnel and grieving families. Among the dead were members of the Nigerian military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who perished while defending the embattled village.
The governor painted a chilling picture of the assault, describing it as a “premeditated and deadly invasion” launched from neighbouring Nasarawa State. The attackers, he said, moved with calculated precision, laying waste to Yelewata in an orchestrated ambush that left no room for mercy.
“Based on coordinated efforts between security agencies and affected families, we have confirmed 59 deaths—including brave security operatives. One woman was also killed across the Nasarawa border during the attack,” Alia stated somberly.
He expressed appreciation to Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, for the timely exchange of intelligence before and after the deadly raid. However, despite collaborative efforts, the scale and ferocity of the violence overwhelmed initial responses, resulting in catastrophic loss of life and property.
The revelation came shortly after Governor Alia received the findings of a high-powered panel of inquiry set up to investigate militia violence in the volatile Sankera axis of Benue. The panel’s report, he noted, will be pivotal in reshaping the state’s approach to tackling insecurity.
Vowing justice for the victims, Alia pledged to forward the report to relevant security and intelligence agencies for immediate action. He emphasized that all perpetrators, regardless of their backing or affiliations, would be hunted down and prosecuted.
“We are fully committed to reclaiming every inch of Benue from the grip of terror. The blood of innocent people cries out for justice, and this administration will not relent until those behind these atrocities are brought to book,” the governor declared.
As the community reels from the carnage, the tragic events in Yelewata have once again highlighted the deadly intersections of land conflict, border insecurity, and the escalating menace of armed militia violence plaguing parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
