Elder Amos, a resident of Yelewata in Benue State, recounted the devastating events that unfolded on the night of June 13, 2025, a night that shattered the peace of his community and left an indelible mark on his life.
According to a report published by DAILY POST, Amos had lived a quiet life, rooted in the farming traditions of his people for more than five decades. However, nothing in his 57 years prepared him for the horror that descended on his town, forever altering his world.
On that fateful Friday night, Yelewata, a peaceful farming settlement along the Abuja-Makurdi highway, was engulfed in flames and chaos. Suspected armed herdsmen launched a brutal and coordinated attack, targeting homes, schools, and places of refuge.
Over 300 residents were killed in the massacre, which is now remembered as the deadliest in recent history in the region. The attack left hundreds of families grieving, homes destroyed, and the community’s spirit broken.
The carnage was not random but appeared to be the culmination of escalating tensions between local farmers and herders in the region.
Weeks before the attack, local traditional rulers had issued warnings for herders to vacate the land to prevent violence, but these directives went unheeded. The failure to enforce this ultimatum set the stage for the deadly assault.
During the attack, many residents sought safety in public spaces such as the primary school, church, and market square, which became targets themselves. The attackers moved swiftly and ruthlessly, leaving behind charred remains of buildings and human lives.
Speaking on the incident, Elder Amos said: “It was like a war. In my 57 years on earth, I’ve never witnessed this. I escaped with my third son. My wife and other children were not so lucky. My world ended that Friday night.”
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