Yelewata Tragedy: Nigeria’s Middle Belt Violence Escalates

A devastating overnight assault occurred on June 14-15, 2025, in the village of Yelewata, Benue State, Nigeria, where armed assailants launched a deadly attack while residents, including internally displaced persons, were asleep, marking one of the deadliest incidents in recent months.

Residential properties and market stalls were subjected to petrol-induced arson, resulting in a death toll ranging from 100 to 200. In the aftermath of this tragedy, survivors describe devastating losses, with entire families succumbing to the inferno.

This heinous incident underscores the persistent conflict between herders and farmers over land resources in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, exacerbating tensions and resulting in catastrophic loss of life and widespread displacements.

Enraged communities demand immediate government intervention and justice, while national and international attention concentrates on addressing the underlying causes of this conflict.