New details have surfaced following the de@dly Saturday morning attack on Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where suspected armed herdsmen carried out a coordinated assault, k!lling numerous residents and destroying properties.
Sources said the attackers invaded the town in the early hours of the day, splitting into three groups to penetrate Yelewata from multiple directions.
The assault reportedly began through Tse Ate, a track leading to Agugu Igbaakombo, and another path behind the community’s market square.
According to residents who spoke at the scene of the attack, the invaders opened fire in turns to confuse and divide local security efforts.
Youths and police personnel attempted to resist the attackers but were overwhelmed by their numbers and tactical approach.
In a statement issued by Comrade Joseph Apahar Joo, Media and Publicity Officer for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) unit in Benue State, it was revealed that the third group of attackers, who entered through the rear, targeted shops where many residents were sleeping.
“Those who tried to escape were chased and k!lled. Others couldn’t come out because the attackers had already sprayed fuel on the doors before setting the buildings ablaze,” Comrade Joo said.
Shops and homes were razed in the attack, with victims reportedly burnt alive alongside farm produce and stored food items.
Yelewata, known for its early resistance against violent invasions in Benue, is said to have never experienced an attack of this magnitude.
