Benue: Armed Herders Strike Yelewata Again, Two Injured

By Abah Margaret

Suspected armed herders have reportedly launched another attack on Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, leaving two residents injured.

The latest incident has heightened fears among residents of the community, which previously suffered a devastating 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 encountered soldiers deployed to maintain security.

According to the source, the troops moved to intercept the herders as they grazed towards Yelewata town, but the situation escalated when the suspects attempted to flee.

“The attack happened in the afternoon when the herders were openly grazing toward Yelewata. Soldiers tried to stop them, but when they realised they might be arrested, they began to retreat,” he said.

He added that while the soldiers fired warning shots to deter them, the fleeing herders allegedly opened fire in response.

“The soldiers fired warning shots into the air, but the herders shot back while retreating. Two people were hit very close to my house,” the source disclosed.

The victims reportedly sustained gunshot injuries, with one woman shot in the hand and another resident hit in the leg. Both were said to have been promptly evacuated by the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) to Makurdi for medical treatment.

“They are still alive, and we are grateful for the swift intervention of BSEMA,” the source added.

The community leader expressed concern that the renewed violence could disrupt ongoing farming activities, especially coming just days after the state government distributed improved agricultural inputs to farmers in the area.

He warned that continued attacks by armed herders could prevent residents from accessing their farmlands and benefiting from the intervention.

“Our people are afraid. The resurgence of these attacks may stop them from going to their farms to make use of the inputs provided.

“We live in fear daily. It is difficult to farm when armed men are moving freely around our communities,” he lamented.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages were not returned as of the time of filing this report.