In the aftermath of a brutal night raid on Yelewata community in Guma Local government of Benue State, a survivor, Joseph Terzdungwe Kwagh, has recounted the horrifying experience that led to the death and burning of eight members of his immediate family during the attack allegedly carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
The attack, which occurred on the night of Friday, June 13, lasted nearly four hours and left over 200 people dead, with many homes and food stores set ablaze.
On Sunday Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for victims of what he described as “terrible massacre” especially in the “rural Christian communities of the Benue State who have been relentless victims of violence”.
Kwagh told News Central:
“On the day of the attacks, there was rumours that Fulani herdsmen have sent messages across that they are coming to attack Yelewata, just like every other time, they have always sent threats of attacking Yelewata. We thought it was like previous rumours that come and go without anything happening. We sat vigil outside our houses, talking and sharing stories.”
“And then the rains started falling down heavily, all of a sudden and everyone rushed to seek refuge under the various shelters. My father, his wife (my step-mother), and 6 of my siblings now crossed to the other side of the expressway to the other house that was serving as grain stores to get shielded from the rains.”
“At this point there were gunshots everywhere in Yelewata with pandemonium everywhere. Not long enough, I heard cries and shouts across the other side of the road, where my father, step-mother and my other siblings had gone to seek shelter, but with the heavy downpour, the noise was too loud to get to know what the shouts/cries were.”
“Not until someone came running towards our location with blood all over him and saying that they have come and killing people, that was when I and my mother and the rest of my biological brothers and sisters decided to flee to the place where the security agents were also engaging the attackers from all positions.”
According to him, it was the arrival of military reinforcements from Makurdi that forced the assailants to retreat.
“That was how I was able to escape with my mother and siblings to safety,” he said.
“Like I said earlier, we are used to hearing rumours of the attackers coming and most times, when they come, they meet stiff resistance from the military, police and local vigilantes stationed in our community and they go back. So, we had thought it will be same situation as it has been in the past… this time around, they were well-armed and hell-bent on killing anyone they see. That is why even babies were hacked to death.”
Kwagh said he later found the charred remains of his father, stepmother, and six siblings in the grain store.
“That I was able to go to the very house my father and the other members of our family went to hide, that I discovered his charred remains along with my step-mother and siblings. I was really devastated. We had foodstuffs in the store, where we normally go to restock our household. All burnt down along with our family members.”
He added that no arrests have been made since the incident.
“There has been no any form of arrest so far. Except that the corpse of two of the attackers were recovered and brought to the visiting commissioner of police, Benue State, who said he will use it as exhibit to start a case on it. And to show the executive governor of Benue State, Father Hyacinth Alia.”
“The local vigilantes, the military and police really did their best, but I guess they ran out of ammunition, until reinforcement came in from Makurdi.”
He called on the global community to pay attention to the atrocities being committed by what he described as Fulani pastoralists, who he accused of waging an unprovoked war.
“The world should be told that the peaceful place called Yelewata was massacred by Fulani pastorist, who have been waging war against us, unprovoked attacks, such that we are not able to go to farm to cultivate and grow crops, our only source of livelihood.”
He lamented the longstanding conflict over land and the destruction of crops by grazing cattle.
“Before this time, there has been cases of cattle grazing on our farmland and when we arrest the cattle and take to the police authority, the compensation is never commiserate with the value or worth of crops destroyed by the grazing cattle. And we end up getting impoverished every season.”
He said the community elders had only asked the herders to leave their land peacefully.
“Our elders decided to ask them to leave our land, so that they can farm peacefully. That is our only crime. Nobody harmed them. They only said, since we are refusing them to graze on our land, that we too will not know peace. That is their threat to us.”
The survivor expressed deep fear and despair about the future.
“My worst fears are that, these deaths have created a vacuum that I cannot fill. I have lost the little investment in terms of my savings, my foodstuffs, seedlings for this year’s planting season and the fear of not being able to go back to farm again… because you never can tell what these pastoralists are capable of doing going further.”
“They have their families across Nasarawa state and they have sponsors too. We don’t have anyone to run to for help. We are at the mercy of all other Nigerians. Any willing organisation can come to our help, please… because with this unfortunate happening, hunger, more poverty and suffering will be the order of the day.”
“My remaining surviving family is where I am gathering strength from. There is no one except me to cater for their needs. And that as far as there is life, there will be hope too.”
Wider Fallout
News Central reports that Tiv indigenes in neighbouring Nasarawa State have also been facing attacks, reportedly as a spillover of the Benue massacre.
As of Sunday, four Tiv individuals were killed, and a man named Friday Kuma was attacked on his way home in Obi LGA. He sustained severe machete wounds and is currently receiving treatment.
Fulani pastoralist settlements in Nasarawa are said to be fleeing in the wake of military bombardments, while some herdsmen allegedly retaliate by attacking innocent Tiv communities.
In the Abaagu axis, a Tiv traditional ruler was murdered, and three motorcycles were taken. In another case, a female and male were kidnapped, while one man escaped. Their whereabouts remain unknown. One more person was reportedly killed at Kalashi in Keana LGA.
Many fear this rising ethnic targeting is setting a dangerous precedent.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the service chiefs to restore peace and is expected to visit Benue State on Wednesday to commiserate with affected families.
