Yelewata—a serene agricultural village on the Abuja–Makurdi corridor in Benue State—will forever mark June 13–14, 2025, as its darkest day.
On that dreadful Friday night into Saturday morning, the community was jolted awake by relentless gunshots, ablaze residences and shops, and the gut-wrenching screams of children being hacked, shot, or burned alive by suspected armed herdsmen.
By dawn on Saturday, June 14, over 300 people had perished, hundreds of dwellings lay in ruins, and the village’s former vitality was silenced by profound sorrow.
This massacre—remembered by survivors as the deadliest in recent memory—shocked a community once known for peaceful farming.
Elder Amos, a 57‑year‑old survivor, recounted: “It was like war. I escaped with my third son. My wife and other children weren’t so lucky. My world ended that Friday night.”
The assault, believed by many to be orchestrated, heightened long-standing tensions between local farmers and grazing herdsmen. Just weeks earlier, Tiv and Idoma traditional rulers had ordered herders off communal farmland by late May, due to repeated encroachment and violence. That deadline passed unheeded, culminating in tragedy.
Previously, similar attacks had occurred in Edikwu‑Ankpali (Apa LGA) and Tyoshin (Naka, Gwer East LGA), claiming many lives.
Individual losses are heartbreaking. Among the victims was Pharmacist Matthew Iormba, an academically brilliant graduate who’d returned home after finishing his housemanship in Kano—only to be burnt in the blaze.
Another victim, Tsegba Lucy, lost her mother and five siblings. In her agony, she told us:
“My beloved mum and beautiful sisters. Go well till we meet again … I love you, but God loves you more.”
Local footballer Agande described returning from a Makurdi match to find his parents and ten relatives incinerated.
Homes, farms, photos, schoolbooks and cooking utensils—all were destroyed. Fire still smolders in some ruins; charred remains lie unburied days later.
Franc Utoo—a lawyer and politician from Yelewata—lost more than 33 relatives and 50 political allies. He told LMSINT MEDIA that the community had intelligence the attack was planned:
“We learned they might invade from Obi, Doma or Keana LGAs … We informed security agents, but nothing was done.”
According to Utoo, villagers had relocated at night to the primary school, church and market square. The attackers launched around 10 pm on June 13, targeting those gathering points under the cover of rain.
He added that the assailants used diversion tactics to hit multiple locations simultaneously, including Yelewata’s new market.
A major controversy arose over casualty figures. Governor Hyacinth Alia—citing an official panel—reported just 59 deaths, a claim rejected by locals:
Samson, a youth leader in Daudu, insisted:
“We lost over 300 people … A family here lost over 40 members alone.”
President Tinubu’s statement, attributing the incident to “reprisal attacks”, baffled and angered survivors. Utoo sharply criticized this framing, pointing out the lack of commitment to arrest perpetrators or provide relief.
The Federal government, via SGF George Akume, acknowledged more than 200 fatalities, though the true number remains unknown.
The community also decried the delayed and muted government response. Governor Alia took over 48 hours to visit or comment. Police and the deputy governor reportedly left after brief visits. Youth protests in Makurdi were quelled with tear gas and arrests of at least 14 demonstrators demanding justice.
Globally, the event drew outrage. Pope Leo XIV, speaking from Rome, called the massacre “terrible,” urging justice and protection for Christian rural communities in Nigeria.
List of Victims as provided by Franc Utoo.
- Fanen Chii
- Doom Chii
- Terzungwe Chii
- Edeember Uke
- Aondodoo Uke
- Adohi Dooga
- Mbanyiar Dooga
- Ikyoche Dooga
- Awanboi Dooga
- Regina Dooga
- Adoo Dooga
- Aondofa Dooga
- Mathew Iormba
- Apam Iormba
- Philomena Iormba
- Akama Iormba
- Ngodoo Iormba
- Kumawues Iormba
- Nensha Iormba
- Victoria Tsegba
- Ngodoo Tsegba
- Mimidoo Tsegba
- Dorathy Tsegba
- Msendoo Tsegba
- Iorgyer Kyule
- Ute Dooga
- Shaadye Koornam
- Sewuese Iorember
- Dooshima Aondoana
- Agbogo Aondoana
- Erdoo Aondoana
- Orsoja Ikpakyaa
- Injinia Ikpakyaa
- Chia Orshio
- Uyina Orshio
- Katie Orshio
- Myuega Orshio
- Usha Orshio
- Philomena Orshio
- Alia Orshio
- Lydia Ajah
- Terdoo Ajah
- Iwuese Ajah
- Orbuter Anya
- Terzungwe Akpen
- Aondohemba Akpen
- Ushana Akpen
- Shater Akpen
- Mercy Akpen
- Isaac Akpen
- Doowuese Ugbah
- Ngodoo Ugba
- Manta Simon
- Manta Laadi
- Manta Iwuese
- Doose Asoo
- Terlumun Fidelis
- Yakov Shagwa
- Margaret Shagwa
- Erdoo Shagwa
- Dooauur Shagwa
- Sewuese Shagwa
- Logo Ukô
- Eunice Tyokuwa
- Jude Aza
- Kwaghhar Ordue
- Doosuur Ordue
- Terngu Nongotse
- Msugh Nongotse
- Dooshima Nongotse
- Orlogbo Lamaaondo
- Laadi Lamaaondo
- Awan Shiôr
- Aondohemba Ucha
- Bonashe Uzer
- Amaki Dende
- Angbiandoo Dende
- Festus Amaki
- Mbaufe Ubi
- Matthew Uto
- Doopinen Uto
- Kumater Uto
- Terhile Uto
- Versuwe Zerkohol
- Mbakeren Aondovihi
- Monday Aondovihi
- Erdoo Aondovihi
- Joe Aondovihi
- Mwarga Aondovihi
- Felicia Gwabo
- Mary Gwabo
- Terhemba Gwabo
- Jirgema Gwabo
- Mercy Dende
- Lubem Dende
- Uwundu Iorhemen
- Gabriel Fide
- Aondoana Fide
- Ukese Fide
- Averter Fide
- Mwaraorga Fide
- Terkimbir Solomon
- Amina Kongo
- Terkula Kongo
- Doose Asoo
- Aboi Asoo
- Shater Amaki
- Lumunga Gbem
- Doose Ayom
- Mama Mfanyi
- Samson Uke
- Aboi Korna
- Aondoawase Lamaaondo
- Ormbagba Utim
- Mermber Lamaaondo
- Doose Ordue
- Torsaar Adam
- Doose Adam
- Nguyilan Adam
- Terver Ucha
- Agon Ucha
- Aondohemba Ucha
- Atuur Asom
- Uvershigh Asom
- Nongo Ulam
- Aondoaver Ulam.
What lies ahead for Yelewata?
The town is engulfed in mourning. Survivors are still recovering bodies, searching for the missing. The question haunting many: Can Yelewata ever heal after this devastation?
This atrocity—one attack too many—has left deep wounds in time and memory.
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