Massacre in Benue: Over 100 Killed as Gunmen Attack Nigerian Village, Amnesty Alleges Genocide Pattern

Reporting by iNewsAfrica Bureau, Abuja

Amnesty International reports that at least 100 civilians were killed in a brutal overnight attack by unidentified gunmen in Yelewata village, Benue State. The carnage marks one of the deadliest massacres in Nigeria’s Middle Belt this year.

• Where: Yelewata community, Guma Local Government Area, Benue State

• When: Night of June 13–14, 2025

• Casualties: Over 100 dead, dozens missing, hundreds displaced

• Source: Amnesty International, eyewitnesses, local leaders

• Government: Federal authorities under pressure as survivors demand justice

• Context: Ongoing herder-farmer conflict and systemic insecurity

Benue State, Nigeria – June 16, 2025
At least 100 people have been killed in a coordinated overnight assault by armed gunmen in Yelewata, a farming community in Benue State’s Guma Local Government Area, according to Amnesty International. The international rights group has described the attack as part of a recurring pattern of unchecked violence that may constitute crimes against humanity.

Eyewitnesses recount that the attackers stormed the village late Friday night, torching homes, slaughtering residents, and burning victims alive. “It was a bloodbath,” said one survivor. “Whole families were wiped out.”

Homes, food barns, and water sources were destroyed, leaving hundreds of survivors displaced and without access to basic needs. Initial reports from local police confirmed 45 deaths, but further investigations and survivor testimonies pushed the toll beyond 100. Some sources suggest the number could be as high as 150.

The Benue State government has condemned the killings, while President Bola Tinubu described the massacre as “a senseless act of bloodletting,” pledging swift action and increased military presence in the region.

Despite these promises, Amnesty International criticized the Nigerian government for “failing to protect rural communities” and called for independent investigations and urgent international attention.

The Middle Belt region, long plagued by deadly clashes between nomadic herders and agrarian communities, continues to bear the brunt of Nigeria’s rural insecurity. With attacks becoming more frequent and brutal, questions are being raised about the effectiveness—and commitment—of the state to protect its citizens.

“The scale and frequency of these killings suggest a deliberate policy of extermination,” said Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty Nigeria. “The international community must act.”

Local residents have begun mass burials as humanitarian agencies rush to offer aid. Meanwhile, displaced villagers remain in makeshift camps, hoping for safety and justice in a nation struggling to contain internal conflict.

iNewsAfrica is monitoring the situation and will provide updates as more information becomes available.