‘They burnt my children alive’: Woman loses 5 Kids, mother in Yelewata massacre

Tears, smoke and screams of anguish filled the air in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State on Saturday as residents counted their dead after a brutal attack by suspected herdsmen left over 200 people killed, including women, children, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and several security personnel, IDOMA VOICE reports.

Among the most heart-wrenching stories was that of a woman, believed to be in her 40s, who lost her five children and her aged mother in the deadly midnight raid.

Fighting through sobs, she narrated how the attackers stormed her home in the early hours, doused it in petrol, and set it ablaze while her family was still inside.

“They burnt my house with my children and my mother inside. I couldn’t save anyone. I only managed to escape with my life,” she cried.

The attack, which residents described as well-coordinated and unprovoked, saw the invaders strike from multiple directions, overwhelming both local youths and the security operatives stationed in the area. Victims were mostly IDPs seeking shelter in market stalls and nearby homes, many of whom were burnt beyond recognition.

In the wake of the massacre, angry youths took to the streets across parts of Benue State, staging spontaneous protests to demand an immediate end to the bloodshed that has plagued the region for years.

Chanting slogans and carrying placards, the demonstrators condemned the government’s silence and inaction, accusing federal authorities of neglecting the plight of Benue people.
Some of the placards read: “Benue Bleeds, Abuja Sleeps,” “We Are Not Animals,” and “Stop the Genocide Now.”

Security agencies have yet to release a comprehensive casualty figure, but local sources, including community leaders and humanitarian workers, confirm that the death toll continues to rise as bodies are still being recovered from burnt homes and farmlands.