Makurdi, Benue State — June 15, 2025 | SaharaNews247.com
A peaceful protest turned chaotic this morning in Makurdi, Benue State, as Nigerian police fired teargas at a crowd of enraged residents demanding justice for the gruesome massacre that took place Saturday night in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area.
The attack, allegedly carried out by armed herdsmen, left over 200 people dead, according to eyewitnesses and community leaders.
What began as a solemn procession to mourn the dead quickly escalated into a dramatic confrontation with law enforcement, marking yet another dark day in Nigeria’s battle with insecurity.
Yelewata Drenched in Blood
According to local sources, the attack began around 10:00 PM on Saturday, June 14, when armed assailants believed to be herdsmen stormed Yelewata village. Residents say the attackers fired sporadically, razing homes, and executing entire families in cold blood.
“It was a massacre. They came in large numbers and began killing anyone in sight. Even women and children were not spared,” one survivor told SaharaNews247 under anonymity for fear of reprisals.
Preliminary figures estimate the death toll at over 200, though state officials have yet to release an official casualty count.
Angry Protesters Take to the Streets
By early Sunday morning, the streets of Wurukum Roundabout in Makurdi were filled with hundreds of black-clad youths chanting songs of mourning and demanding immediate action from the government. Many carried placards reading “We Are Not Animals”, “Yelewata Bleeds Again”, and “Justice or More Protests.”
Protesters blocked major roads, disrupting traffic and drawing national attention to what they called “the government’s silence in the face of genocide.”
Tensions Boil Over: Police Respond with Teargas
The protest took a dramatic turn when the Benue State Commissioner of Police arrived at the scene. Protesters surrounded his vehicle, shouting:
“Go to Yelewata! Go see the bodies!”
Minutes after the commissioner departed, heavily armed security forces moved in and fired multiple rounds of teargas to disperse the crowd. Eyewitnesses reported chaos, stampedes, and injuries as people—many of them elderly and children—fled for safety.
“We came to mourn and demand justice, but they attacked us like criminals,” a protester cried while being treated for teargas inhalation.
️ Public Outcry Grows Louder
Civil society groups, human rights activists, and political figures have condemned both the killings and the police response to the protest.
Amnesty International described the Yelewata attack as a “mass atrocity” and called for an urgent investigation. In a statement released on Sunday, the group said:
“The Nigerian government has a duty to protect its citizens. The deliberate targeting of communities, followed by the silencing of peaceful protest, is unacceptable.”
Where Is the Government?
As of this report, no official statement has been issued by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The silence has only added to public frustration, with many accusing the federal government of neglecting the North Central region despite repeated attacks in recent years.
️ Benue Residents Demand More Than Words
What happens next in Benue could set the tone for how Nigeria deals with internal insecurity, ethnic violence, and freedom of expression. The people of Yelewata and the protesters in Makurdi are calling not just for words of condolence—but for concrete action:
Immediate arrest and prosecution of the attackers
Deployment of more security forces to rural areas
A judicial panel of inquiry into the Yelewata massacre
Protection for protest rights under the Nigerian constitution
Images of a Community in Mourning
Photos coming soon: If you have images or videos from the Yelewata attack or the Makurdi protest, please send to SaharaNews247 via our contact page. We respect anonymity.
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