Benue: Two injured as suspected herdsmen strike Yelewata again

Suspected armed herdsmen have again attacked Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, leaving two residents injured in the latest incident.

The community had previously suffered a deadly assault on June 13, 2025, when over 200 people were killed, forcing many survivors into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.

A local leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers invaded the area on Sunday afternoon with their cattle and confronted soldiers deployed to protect the community.

“The attack happened in the afternoon as the herders were openly grazing toward Yelewata town. Soldiers moved in to intercept them, but when the herders realised they might be arrested, they started retreating,” he said.

“The soldiers fired warning shots into the air, but the herders responded by opening fire while withdrawing. Two people were shot very close to my house.”

According to him, one of the victims, a woman, sustained a gunshot wound to the hand, while another person was shot in the leg.

Both victims were stabilised and later evacuated by the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) to Makurdi for further treatment.

“They are alive, and we appreciate the swift response by BSEMA,” he added.

The community leader noted that the incident occurred just days after the state government distributed improved farm inputs to residents to boost food production ahead of the planting season.

He warned that the renewed attacks could disrupt farming activities and prevent locals from benefiting from the intervention.

“Our people are worried that these attacks may stop them from going to their farms and using the inputs given to them.

“We live in fear every day. How can we farm when armed men move freely around our lands?” he lamented.

Efforts to get a response from the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to her were not returned as of the time of filing this report.