Deadly Massacre in Yelwata Raises Alarm
On June 13, 2025, suspected Fulani militants carried out a brutal midnight raid on Yelwata, a Christian-majority village and internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Benue State, North‑Central Nigeria. Up to 200 people were killed, including women, children, and families who had sought refuge in makeshift sleeping quarters. Many victims were burned beyond recognition after buildings were torched by attackers. Church leaders in the area reported horrendous scenes. “Corpses were scattered everywhere,” they said, describing how entire families were annihilated in their compounds.
Rising Tension in Yogbo Village
Just days after Yelwata, Yogbo village—also in Guma County—experienced increasing militant activity. On June 18, armed Fulani militias attempted an assault. Although local security forces repelled the attack, the militants returned repeatedly to roam cattle on Christian farms, block roads, and on June 23, fatally shoot at least one believer. According to local residents, their presence appears preparatory for a possible large-scale offensive . Fear is pervasive as villagers report escalation in both threats and activity.
A Community Under Siege: Ethnic Cleansing Fears
Church and humanitarian organisations are warning of an orchestrated campaign. Religious leaders describe actions consistent with ethnic cleansing—seeking to force Christians from their land through violence, arson, and intimidation. The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Hyacinth Alia, confirmed that the attackers are “suspected Fulani herdsmen,” and local officials arrested several suspects linked to the Yelwata massacre on June 22.
Wider Pattern: Multiple Attacks Across Nigeria
This violence is not isolated. A growing body of evidence confirms hundreds of Christian lives lost in early-2025 assaults across Plateau State and parts of the Middle Belt. Between January and April, more than 300 Christians were killed, with women often kidnapped, men murdered, churches and farms destroyed, and entire communities displaced. On Palm Sunday, in Zike (Plateau State), at least 40 people were shot dead, including children and the elderly. Homes were looted and razed to the ground. The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, expressed condolences and ordered an investigation. In late May, coordinated attacks in Benue State claimed 42 lives in Tyolaha, Tse‑Ubiam, Ahume, and Aondona—villages linked to the same escalating cycle of ethnoreligious violence.
Pleas for Action and Protection
Christian and Catholic leaders have issued urgent appeals for global intervention. They call on international bodies to pressure the Nigerian government to safeguard vulnerable rural communities and to hold perpetrators accountable. Many victims remain displaced, seeking shelter in camps overwhelmed by insecurity. Despite limited international aid, protection is still inadequate and inconsistent .
What Comes Next? A Critical Juncture
Security sources report that another large-scale attack on Christian settlements—especially IDP camps—is feared imminently in Benue State. With militants increasingly emboldened, analysts warn that a failure to respond effectively might lead to irreversible loss of life in a region already destabilised by repeated terror attacks .
