More than 100 villagers have been killed in Yelewata, a village in Benue state, North-Central of Nigeria, on Friday by armed attackers suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, locals have told REPORTAFRIQUE.
The attackers were armed with AK-47 rifles and machetes. They were said to have attacked the village in the dead of the night, around 10 PM on Friday, killing over 100 villagers, including women and children. Severl houses were also set ablaze by the attackers.
A native of Yelewata, Mr. Aondoaver Dominic, who resides in the UK, told REPORTAFRIQUE that despite the presence of a military command and a police station in the area, the attackers went about killing their victims unchallenged for more than 2 hours. His father, an army veteran who witnessed the attacks, had informed him about the attacks and decried the lack of action by the authorities to stop the attackers.
The attack was said to have lasted for two hours. Images from the attacks showed the corpses of victims, including women and children, decapitated, and some burnt beyond recognition.
Eyewitnesses say the armed men unleashed mayhem on the villagers at the Yelewata New Market, which is said to host many traders at night, before attacking homes. Many victims were burnt beyond recognition.
A youth leader of Yelewata, Mr. Aondoakaa Sylvanus Aza, who is also the president of Yelewata Youth Vanguard told REPORTAFRIQUE that two of the attackers were later killed by the villagers who had regrouped to counter the attackers as they exited the area.
” Our youths regrouped and ambushed the attackers at their exit path. We know the terrain better and knew that was their only exit path. It was at this point that we countered them as they were parking items they stole from their victims on motorcycles, and killed two of them.” Aza told our correspondent.
Mr. Aza decried the fact that despite the security presence in the area, the attackers spent two hours killing people and burning houses without a challenge from security operatives.
“Yelewata is barely 40-minute drive from Makurdi, the Benue state capital, yet the security operative could not stop these attackers for two hours. They only sent some troops down after the attackers had left the village. ” Aza recounted.
22 members of one family killed in the attacks
A certain family named Shuur from the Nbagwange clan of Yelwata village was said to have lost 22 members to the attacks.
Wounded Victims Receiving Treatment
Sources at the village informed REPORTAFRIQUE that about 20 persons were rescued alive but with serious injuries. Two of the injured were said to have succumbed to their injuries and died before they could be transported to the hospital in Makurdi. 18 victims are said to be currently receiving treatments at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital.
Some photos – Yelewata attacks:
History of Violence and How the Attacks on Yelewata Started…
According to the locals, there exists a long-standing feud between herders and local farmers in Yelewata. Hearders often graze their cattle on crops on farmlands belonging to local farmers in Yelewata, leading to occasional violent attacks on the villagers by the herders.
About three weeks ago, there was an attack on a family in the village by herders. The incident allegedly claimed the lives of three victims – a man, his wife, and his child.
Yesterday’s attack is believed to be a spill-off from previous attacks.
Police Confirm the Attack on Yelewata
The attack at Yelewata village was confirmed by the spokesperson for Benue State Command, DSP, Udeme Edet. Speaking on the issue, DSP Edet said that some individuals and the attackers lost their lives when security men were reinforced in the community.
“The police and tactical teams posted to the town and reinforcement responded swiftly to the attack and engaged the attackers in a fierce exchange and unfortunately some of the attackers were killed in the process
“But it’s with great sadness that we report that some individuals lost their lives and others sustained injuries.” Edet said.
However, some villagers, who spoke to REPORTAFRIQUE, maintained that no security operatives were seen in Yelewata village during the attacks, but were sent after the attackers had left the area.
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