YELWATA, Nigeria — Suspected herdsmen on Monday, August 11, 2025, killed three people and left three others critically injured in a morning attack on a farm in Yelwata, Benue State.
The incident sparked a protest by women from the community, who blocked the federal highway linking Benue and Nasarawa states, accusing soldiers of failing to respond promptly to the assault.
Matthew Mnyam, a former government official, told Channels Television that attempts by local leaders to persuade the protesters to leave the road were unsuccessful.
The women, he said, insisted that soldiers should leave their communities, alleging that they had refused to protect them.
“This morning, three persons were killed by Fulani herdsmen while three others were discovered with severe gunshot injuries… leaving them in critical condition,” Mr Mnyam said.
“The commissioner of police is there at the moment trying to handle the matter, while I have sent a message to the Secretary of Guma Local Government Area to reach out to the chairman to intervene.”
Guma LGA chairman Maurice Orwough confirmed the attack and protest, appealing to “all persons of goodwill to work for peace.”
The Yelwata area has faced repeated violence in recent months.
In June, an overnight assault by suspected herdsmen killed scores of residents and displaced more than 3,000 people.
Official figures put the death toll at 59, while civil rights groups claimed as many as 200 were killed.
The killings drew national condemnation and international attention, including from Pope Leo XIV, who called the incident a “terrible massacre” and urged an end to the violence.
