Gunmen killed at least 100 people in Nigeria’s Benue state over the weekend, with victims locked in their homes and burned alive as authorities scramble to respond.
At a Glance
- Amnesty International reports at least 100 people killed in Yelewata village, Benue state during an attack late Friday into Saturday
- Many families were locked inside their bedrooms and burned alive; dozens remain injured without adequate medical care
- The attack highlights ongoing deadly conflicts between Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farming communities in the region
- Local officials report a lower death toll of 45, while witnesses fear casualties may be even higher
- This is the latest in escalating violence that has displaced 2.2 million people since 2019
Brutal Attack Devastates Nigerian Village
Armed gunmen launched a deadly assault on Yelewata village in Nigeria’s central Benue state late Friday night, killing at least 100 people according to Amnesty International. The attackers employed horrific tactics, including trapping families in their homes before setting them ablaze. Many victims remain missing and dozens of injured survivors lack proper medical attention in the aftermath. The attack has sent shockwaves through a region already destabilized by ongoing conflicts between predominantly Muslim herders and Christian farming communities.
While Amnesty International places the death toll at 100, state officials have reported lower figures. The governor’s office acknowledged 45 deaths and numerous burned structures. Local residents fear the actual number of casualties could be significantly higher as search efforts continue. Social media images from the scene reveal the devastating aftermath – charred buildings and bodies scattered throughout the village, underscoring the brutality of the assault.
At least 100 people have been killed in an attack by gunmen on a village in Nigeria's central Benue state, Amnesty International Nigeria said Saturday. https://t.co/83W4lK6Lro
— Reuters Africa (@ReutersAfrica) June 14, 2025
Ongoing Religious and Ethnic Tensions
The attack in Yelewata represents the latest chapter in a long-standing conflict that has plagued Nigeria’s Middle Belt region. This area frequently experiences deadly clashes between Muslim Fulani herders and predominantly Christian farming communities over land access, water rights, and grazing territory. The tensions have deep historical and religious dimensions, complicated by climate change and population growth that intensify competition for increasingly scarce resources in the region.
Just last month, a similar attack in Benue’s Gwer West area claimed at least 20 lives. In April, gunmen killed more than 40 people in neighboring Plateau state. According to security intelligence firm SBM Intelligence, these ongoing conflicts have resulted in over 500 deaths and displaced approximately 2.2 million people since 2019. The identities of the perpetrators in the most recent attack remain unconfirmed as investigations continue.
Gunmen killed at least 100 people in the Yelewata village in Nigeria's Benue state late Friday, Amnesty International Nigeria said. https://t.co/p1groC08Ct
— DW News (@dwnews) June 15, 2025
Government Response and Criticism
Benue state Governor Hyacinth Alia has dispatched a delegation to support victims’ families, while police report engaging the attackers in a gunfight during the incident. However, human rights organizations have sharply criticized Nigerian authorities for their inability to protect citizens from such atrocities. The recurring violence highlights significant security challenges facing Africa’s most populous nation as it struggles with multiple insurgencies and communal conflicts.
The complex root causes of the conflict make resolution difficult. Farmers accuse Fulani herders of allowing cattle to destroy crops and forcibly seizing land, while herders contend they have legal grazing rights and face discrimination. Without addressing these fundamental issues, human rights observers warn that the cycle of retaliatory violence will likely continue, further destabilizing food production in a region sometimes called Nigeria’s “breadbasket.”
Humanitarian Impact and Food Security Concerns
Beyond the immediate human toll, the persistent violence threatens broader humanitarian and economic consequences for Nigeria. With many victims being farmers, these attacks directly impact food production in a region vital to the country’s agricultural output. The massive displacement of over two million people has created additional strain on humanitarian resources. Survivors often struggle to rebuild their lives and livelihoods after losing homes, family members, and means of sustenance.
Local youth have begun organizing protests in Makurdi, the state capital, demanding greater security and government accountability. These demonstrations reflect growing frustration with what many perceive as official indifference to their plight. As investigations into the Yelewata massacre continue, citizens and international observers alike watch closely to see whether this latest tragedy will prompt more effective security measures or simply become another statistic in Nigeria’s ongoing cycle of violence.
