By Emeka Blast 
A brutal overnight raid on Yelewata village in Guma LGA between Friday night and Saturday morning left at least 100 people dead,
A brutal overnight raid on Yelewata village in Guma LGA between Friday night and Saturday morning left at least 100 people dead, according to Amnesty International Nigeria. Eyewitnesses reported families locked in and burned alive in their homes, with many injured and missing. Governor Hyacinth Alia has condemned the attack and dispatched a team to support affected families .
❗ Escalating Violence Across Benue
These latest killings are part of a rising tide of violence across the state. Just last week, simultaneous attacks in Apa and Gwer West killed around 20 people, while a few weeks prior, similar raids claimed dozens more . In April and May, coordinated assaults on multiple communities—including Otukpo, Aondona, Tyolaha, Tse-Ubiam, Ahume, and Aondona—resulted in numerous fatalities, some reports citing dozens to 42 dead .
🛡️ Governor Alia’s Response
Governor Alia has been vocal in decrying the violence:
He describes the situation as a coordinated military-style siege, with attackers operating in plainclothes, armed with AK‑47s and AK‑49s, targeting villages for land seizure .
Alia accuses foreign-backed militants and politicians of backing the violence, citing judicial panel findings, and labels the attackers “terrorists” .
He says the goal behind the assaults is “land grabbing”—driving out communities, then returning to occupy their lands .
Despite investing in security (100 Hilux trucks, 600 motorbikes) and deploying task forces, he admits these resources aren’t enough , and appeals urgently to the federal government for support.
🔁 Root Causes & Regional Context
This violence is part of a long-standing herder–farmer conflict in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. Competition over fertile land and water pits largely Fulani herders against predominantly Christian farming communities. Climate pressure, a rise in small arms, and breakdown of grazing laws have exacerbated the crisis .
🧭 What This Means
- Benue is in crisis: multiple waves of high-casualty attacks signal a rapidly deteriorating security environment.
- Governor Alia is framing the violence as an organized, land-grabbing terror campaign, potentially with foreign and political collaborators.
- Calls for federal backing are intensifying, urging coordination across intelligence, military, and community-policing efforts.
- Humanitarian fallout is immense: loss of lives, mass displacement, and looming food insecurity in an agricultural stronghold.
