“In This House, 40 People Were Killed” — Resident Recounts Benue Massacre That Left Over 100 Dead

A deadly night raid on Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State has left over 100 people dead, with entire families wiped out and homes reduced to ashes. The attack, which began late Friday night and continued into the early hours of Saturday, has been described by Amnesty International as one of the deadliest in recent times.

Survivors say the assailants, believed to be herdsmen, came in two groups—one attacked the local police station, while the other went from house to house, killing residents and setting buildings on fire. In one harrowing account, a resident said, “In this house, 40 people were killed; 35 died in the next one. The police station was attacked too.”

Among the victims was a local pharmacist. His brother, visibly shaken in a video shared online, said he lost 15 members of his family in the massacre. Several other households also suffered devastating losses, with some families losing up to five relatives.

In addition to the loss of lives, property damage was extensive. Over 200 bags of rice, worth an estimated ₦25 million, were reportedly destroyed during the attack. Homes, farms, and community infrastructure now lie in ruins.

Disturbing footage of the aftermath was shared by social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, who visited the community shortly after the attack. The video shows charred bodies of children and adults, smouldering homes, and farmland laid to waste. “What my eyes have seen, my mouth cannot speak,” he said. “These are children that were massacred here, burnt to ashes.”

Another resident described the moment the violence began: “We were indoors because of the rain. Around 10:45 p.m., we heard gunshots at the police station. Then the second group began entering homes, breaking doors and shooting people. There was no help. We thought the government would protect us, but we were left alone. Our community youth tried their best. The attackers didn’t leave until around 2 a.m.”

The attack has sparked national outrage and renewed criticism of the government’s handling of security in rural communities.