Benue in Mourning: Survivors Share Heartbreaking Stories After Yelwata Massacre Claims Over 100 Lives

Grief and despair hang heavy over Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where armed attackers, suspected to be herdsmen, unleashed a brutal assault that left over 100 residents dead. The overnight massacre began late Friday, June 13, and continued into the early hours of Saturday, June 14, leaving behind a trail of scorched homes, shattered families, and unanswered questions.

While authorities are still working to verify the final death toll, some unconfirmed reports suggest that up to 200 people may have lost their lives in the carnage.

Among the grieving is Tsegba Gbam Ayua, a displaced man who had fled from Ayua in Nasarawa State two years ago and had been seeking refuge with his family in Yelwata. In a chilling account shared with Daily Trust, Ayua revealed he had travelled briefly to Nasarawa to do menial jobs when the attack occurred.

“I got a call around 11 p.m. on Friday that our host community was under attack,” he recalled. “I rushed back early Saturday morning only to find the worst nightmare of my life. My wife and four children had been burned to ashes inside the market stalls where they were sleeping.”

Ayua buried his entire family the same day and now faces the harrowing task of rebuilding his life alone.

Another devastating account came from Prince Aondona Isaka Ornguga, a former Senior Special Assistant to ex-Governor Samuel Ortom. Initially announcing on Facebook that he lost over 15 family members, Ornguga later confirmed to the press that 23 of his relatives had died in the attack.

“All 23 were from my mother’s side,” he said. “I recently spoke with two of the victims, Victor Utim and Mathew Iormba. Utim had just taken JAMB, and we were trying to get him into school. Iormba was a pharmacist. He had a bright future. But it all ended just like that.”

Survivor Mama Victoria Tyobee narrowly escaped the attack and is still trying to make sense of her experience.

“I heard a gunshot around midnight and saw one of the gunmen near my house. I froze. Then more shots followed, and I somehow managed to get out when he disappeared into the bush. Sadly, three of my relatives were not so lucky,” she said tearfully.

The massacre, which occurred just 40 minutes from Makurdi, the state capital, has sparked nationwide outrage and fresh demands for urgent government intervention. Yelwata’s strategic location, straddling the border between Nasarawa and Benue, has made it particularly vulnerable to cross-border attacks.

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