Are Ethnic Tensions Fueling RURAL HELL?

A suspected herder-led attack on Yelewata village in Benue State killed at least 100 civilians, according to rights groups and local reports, escalating fears of ethnic cleansing and triggering outrage over government inaction.

At a Glance

• Amnesty International reports about 100 people were killed in Yelewata, Benue State
• Eyewitnesses say the toll may exceed 150, with bodies burned and homes destroyed
• Over 3,000 people have been displaced, according to Nigeria’s emergency agency
• Attacks stem from long-running ethnic and resource disputes between Fulani herders and local farmers
• Protests erupted in Makurdi over government delays; President Tinubu has pledged to visit the region

Horror in Yelewata

From late Friday into Saturday morning, gunmen swept through the village of Yelewata in Benue State, burning homes and locking families inside before setting them ablaze. Amnesty International called it “one of the most horrifying killings in recent memory,” and cited reports of entire families burned in their homes. Reuters and Bloomberg confirmed the death toll has likely surpassed 100, with local survivors reporting more than 150 bodies recovered.

Watch a report: Benue killings spark protests.

Roots of a Regional Crisis

Violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt is frequently linked to disputes between predominantly Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farming communities. Climate stress, grazing pressure, and legal ambiguities over land use have intensified these clashes. In Yelewata, attackers were described as arriving from multiple directions and wearing paramilitary gear, raising suspicions of organized militia involvement.

The broader pattern of killings across Benue—documented by Amnesty—includes attacks in Gwer West and Plateau state, where hundreds have died in recent months. Since 2019, more than 500 people have been killed in similar incidents, and 2.2 million displaced nationwide.

Outrage and Government Response

President Bola Tinubu condemned the massacre as “senseless bloodletting” and said he will visit Benue later this week. Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has estimated that over 3,000 residents have fled their homes, and relief camps are being set up in Makurdi.

Still, local anger remains high. Youth protests erupted in Benue’s capital, accusing Governor Hyacinth Alia of inaction and demanding direct federal intervention. Pope Francis has condemned the killings, calling for protection of Nigeria’s rural Christian populations and warning of rising ethnic violence.

Without immediate security deployments, accountability mechanisms, and community-based peace efforts, analysts warn the Benue massacre could accelerate regional destabilization and deepen Nigeria’s growing food and refugee crises.