Benue Whine, Nigeria’s so-known as “food basket,” has turn into a speak the attach farming communities reside in fixed fear.
As soon as identified for its fertile lands and peaceable rural lifestyles, the speak has viewed waves of violent assaults largely blamed on armed herdsmen, militia groups, and bandits.
These assaults delight in no longer handiest taken innocent lives but moreover shattered total communities. Vegetation are deserted, villages are deserted, and households are left mourning with out a clear path to justice.
Listed below are 5 of the deadliest gunmen assaults Benue has experienced in recent years.
Yelewata and Daudu Massacre (June 13–14, 2025)
This recent tragedy in Guma Native Authorities Whine could well moreover be the most horrific in Benue’s recent history.
Suspected herdsmen reportedly stormed the communities of Yelewata and Daudu at night, torching homes and killing rankings. Some victims, including squaddies and civil defence officers, were burned alive in buildings find 22 situation ablaze.
Reliable figures from the speak emergency agency confirmed a minimum of 59 deaths, but residents and human rights groups think the toll could well moreover be nearer to 200.
President Tinubu responded with a firm assertion, vowing action and directing both the defense power and speak authorities to restore peace. However for the folk of Guma, the harm became once already accomplished.
Gwer West Attack (Might perchance presumably well 25, 2025)
Correct kind weeks earlier than the Yelewata killings, the village of Aondona in Gwer West came under siege.
In any case 20 other folks were killed, and dozens more were injured when gunmen launched a coordinated raid, burning homes and gunning down villagers trying to flee.
This attack reignited inflame across the speak, with residents accusing the federal authorities of failing to act on earlier threats in the speak.
Makurdi Killings (June 12, 2025)
Barely two days earlier than the Yelewata bloodbath, gunmen struck again—this time in Mtswenem and Akondotyough Bawa, both in Makurdi LGA.
Around 25 lives were misplaced in what regarded love one other calculated strike against defenseless villagers.
The relief-to-relief killings in Makurdi and Guma left many Benue residents wondering whether or no longer the speak had turn into a war zone.
Guma Attacks of 2022 (April 11–12, 2022)
Even supposing it took speak under a distinct administration, this wave of assaults in Semaka, Tyotugh, and Gaambetiev villages remains one in every of Benue’s bloodiest.
Armed herdsmen stormed these Guma communities, killing a minimum of 25 other folks and injuring many more.
The 2022 assaults revived debates about the need for speak police, as native security structures proved incapable of protecting rural dwellers.
Odugbeho Massacre (June 7, 2021)
In Agatu LGA, the village of Odugbeho became once became into a killing arena.
On a peaceful night, suspected herdsmen invaded and opened fire on residents, killing over 40 other folks.
Despite previous defense power interventions in Agatu, this bloodbath proved the violence became once removed from over. Locals continue to reside with the trauma, and the neighborhood remains vulnerable.
