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Residents of Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State are once again on edge after suspected armed herdsmen launched a fresh attack, leaving two people injured.
The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday afternoon when armed herders, accompanied by cattle, approached the community and encountered military personnel stationed in the area. A community leader, who spoke anonymously, said the situation escalated quickly when soldiers attempted to intercept the herders.
“The herders were grazing openly toward Yelwata town. When soldiers moved in to stop them, they began to retreat. Warning shots were fired, but the herders responded with gunfire while fleeing,” the source explained.
Two residents were caught in the crossfire. One of the victims, a woman, sustained a gunshot wound to her hand, while another person was shot in the leg. Both victims were promptly evacuated by the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) to Makurdi for medical treatment.
“They are alive, and we are thankful for the swift intervention of BSEMA,” the source added.
The attack comes barely four days after the Benue State Government distributed improved farm inputs to boost agricultural production in the area. However, residents say the renewed insecurity may render those efforts ineffective.
“Our people are scared. How can we go to the farms when armed men are moving freely?” the community leader lamented.
The development has reopened old wounds in Yelewata, which was the scene of a devastating attack on June 13, 2025, when over 200 people were reportedly killed. Many survivors remain displaced and are currently living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps. For residents, the latest violence signals a troubling pattern.
The incident raises concerns about food security in the state, especially as farmers may be forced to abandon their lands at the peak of the planting season. The lack of official response has further fueled anxiety among residents, who are calling for stronger security presence and decisive action to prevent further attacks.
