Benue’s Yelwata 200 Killings: A Nation of Stained Flag Amidst 2027 Election.
Eben Enasco Reporting.
The recent attack on Yelwata, a farming community in Benue State’s Guma county, has left the nation in rude shock and grief.
Heavily armed jihadists stormed the village, setting homes ablaze and slaughtering predominantly over 200 Christian inhabitants in a day in what is now seen as the deadliest attack.
With the devastating incident reportedly claiming over 200 lives, the toll is believed to be still rising as survivors struggle to come to terms with the scale of destruction.
This brutal attack is not an isolated incident, but in Plateau, and Kaduna Benue State have been plagued by recurring violence, with Fulani militias carrying out deadly assaults on communities, displacing thousands and leaving death and destruction in their wake.
In February 2025 alone, over 10 people were killed in various counties, spanning from Otukpo to Gwer West.
The violence has forced many to flee their ancestral homes, with some estimates suggesting that over 5,000 people from Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpomaju have been displaced.
The Nigerian government has faced criticism for its handling of the crisis.
There have been numerous directives from the presidency backdated 16 years since the killers invaded Nigeria states.
As part of the directives without actions, the Senate has directed security operatives to swiftly curb the proliferation of arms across the country and suggested setting up ranches in each local government to restrict cattle movements.
The Benue State Government has also launched a 5,000-man Civil Protection Guards to work closely with conventional security agencies to check the activities of marauding herdsmen.
In the lead-up to the 2027 Nigerian elections, the only meaningful discussions by political groups has been a way of intensifying steps regarding politicians switching parties and the potential for increased political maneuvering while hundreds in trickles are killed by a fraction of people from the northern part of Nigeria spreading down south.
Some politicians are already positioning themselves for potential candidacies, while others are actively engaging in coalition building and rhetoric aimed at mobilizing support.
Yet in the street, no one is mobilizing against the killings of the common people.
There’s also a sense of public awareness and scrutiny, with some Nigerians expressing skepticism about the motivations of politicians and the potential for empty promises and shifting loyalties.
The attacks have resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis, with thousands of people living in internally displaced persons, IDP, camps with hope diminished when they would reunite with their biological family.
The security votes have become warfare funds for governors who use it to harass the barrage of political opponents during elections.
The state governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has reported that the state currently shelters over 500,182 IDPs, highlighting the immense humanitarian challenges posed by the crisis.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of the Yelwata killings, there is a growing call for urgent action to restore peace and prevent further bloodshed.
The government must prioritize the safety and security of its citizens, particularly in vulnerable communities.
In a list Credited to Frank Utoo, a countryman and resident of yelewata, but not confirmed yet by the authority of those killed in yelewata attack in Benue State include; in Adam Family, Torsaar Adam,Doose Adam, Nguyilan Adam. AJAH FAMILY; Lydia Ajah, Terdoo Ajah, Iwuese Ajah. AKPEN FAMILY; Terzungwe Akpen, Aondohemba Akpen, Ushana Akpen, Shater Akpen, Mercy Akpen, Isaac Akpen. AMAKI FAMILY; Festus Amaki, Shater Amaki. ANYA FAMILY; Orbuter Anya. AONDOANA FAMILY: Dooshima Aondoana, Agbogo Aondoana, Erdoo Aondoana. AONDOVIHI FAMILY; Mbakeren Aondovihi, Monday Aondovihi, Erdoo Aondovihi, Joe Aondovihi, Mwarga Aondovihi. ASOM FAMILY; Atuur Asom, Uvershigh Asom. ASOO FAMILY; Doose Asoo, Aondosoo Asoo, Aboi Asoo. AYOM FAMILY; Doose Ayom.
AZA FAMILY; Jude Aza. CHII FAMILY; Fanen Chii, Doom Chii,Terzungwe Chii. DENDE FAMILY; Amaki Dende, Angbiandoo Dende, Mercy Dende, Lubem Dende.
DOOGA FAMILY; Adohi Dooga,
Mbanyiar Dooga, Ikyoche Dooga,
Awanboi Dooga, Regina Dooga,
Adoo Dooga, Aondofa Dooga
Ute Dooga. FIDE FAMILY; Gabriel Fide, Aondoana Fide, Ukese Fide,
Averter Fide, Mwaraorga Fide.
Others are: FIDELIS FAMILY; Terlumun Fidelis. GBEM FAMILY;
Lumunga Gbem. GWABO FAMILY;
Felicia Gwabo, Mary Gwabo,
Terhemba Gwabo, Jirgema Gwabo.
IKPAKYAA FAMILY;Orsoja Ikpakyaa,
Injinia Ikpakyaa. IOREMBER FAMILY;
Sewuese Iorember. IORHEMEN FAMILY; Uwundu Iorhemen.
IORMBA FAMILY;Mathew Iormba,
Apam Iormba,Philomena Iormba,
Akama Iormba, Ngodoo Iormba,
Kumawues Iormba, Nensha Iormba. KONGO FAMILY; Amina Kongo, Terkula Kongo.KOORNAM FAMILY; Shaadye Koornam. KORNA FAMILY; Aboi Korna. KYULE FAMILY;
Iorgyer Kyule. LAMAAONDO FAMILY; Orlogbo Lamaaondo, Laadi Lamaaondo, Aondoawase Lamaaondo, Mermber Lamaaondo.
MFANYI FAMILY; Mama Mfanyi.
NONGOTSE FAMILY; Terngu Nongotse, Msugh Nongotse,
Dooshima Nongotse. ORDUE FAMILY; Kwaghhar Ordue, Doosuur Ordue, Doose Ordue. ORSHIO FAMILY; Chia Orshio, Uyina Orshio
Katie Orshio, Myuega Orshio
Usha Orshio, Philomena Orshio
Alia Orshio. SHAGWA FAMILY; Yakov Shagwa, Margaret Shagwa
Erdoo Shagwa, Dooauur Shagwa
Sewuese Shagwa. SHIÔR FAMILY
Awan Shiôr. SIMON FAMILY; Manta Simon.SOLOMON FAMILY;Terkimbir Solomon.TSEGBA FAMILY; Victoria Tsegba, Ngodoo Tsegba, Mimidoo Tsegba, Dorathy Tsegba, Msendoo Tsegba. TYOKUWA FAMILY;Eunice Tyokuwa. UBI FAMILY; Mbaufe Ubi.
UCHA FAMILY; Aondohemba Ucha,
Terver Ucha, Agon Ucha. UGBAH FAMILY; Doowuese Ugbah, Ngodoo Ugbah. UKE FAMILY; Edeember Uke,
Aondodoo Uke, Samson Uke. UKÔ FAMILY; Logo Ukô. ULAM FAMILY
Nongo Ulam, Aondoaver Ulam. UTIM FAMILY; Ormbagba Utim. UTO FAMILY; Matthew Uto, Doopinen Uto
Kumater Uto, Terhile Uto. UZER FAMILY; Bonashe Uzer and ZERKOHOL FAMILY; Versuwe Zerkohol
Those in authority who have hidden their children in comfort zones are the ones bleeding these innocent Nigerians who have been forced against their wills to vacate this beautiful earth to their creator, where some are allowed arms to kill others because they want to occupy their ancestral home
Nigerians last Friday, at about 11 pm, witnessed the heavily armed Jihadists stormed Yelwata, a farming community in the Guma county of Benue state, set ablaze homes and slaughter predominantly Christian inhabitants.
The catastrophic incident last Friday, at about 11 pm Nigeria time, is a monumental loss that is now engraved in the thick arena of history.
This incident, by miles is the heaviest of the killings carried out by the jihadists in one day attack. where children were more of the casualties recorded since the jihadists first launched attacks on Nigeria’s sovereignty over a decade ago.
Lillian Jean Williams wrote the New Nigeria National Anthem, dating 1959, which clearly states in the first verse; “Nigeria We Hail Thee”,where the music was composed by Frances Benda is to be taken seriously, who will those alive hail? The 200 burnt in Yelwata to death by jihaldists or the ones who dont know their fate?
President Bola Tinubu, the green white green flag is stained with the blood of Nigerians in Benue State, Edo State, Plateau, Kaduna, Borno, Anambra, Zamfara, Kogi, Ogun, Delta, Bayelsa, and others and they deserve protection, justice, and support to rebuild their lives.
