‘Our only crime was asking them to leave our land,’ Benue attack survivor mourns eight family members

A survivor of the recent deadly attack in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Joseph Kwagh, has recounted the horrifying moment he lost eight members of his immediate family, including his father, stepmother, and six siblings.

Speaking in an interview with News Central TV, Kwagh revealed that the attackers had sent prior warnings to the community, which residents had dismissed due to similar past threats that never materialised.

“On the day of the attacks, there were rumours that Fulani herdsmen have sent messages across that they are coming to attack Yelewata, just like every other time, they have always sent threats of attacking Yelewata.

“We are used to hearing rumours of the attackers coming and most times, when they come, they meet stiff resistance from the military, police and local vigilantes stationed in our community and they go back. So, we had thought it will be same situation as it has been in the past.

“We thought it was like previous rumours that come and go without anything happening. We sat vigil outside our houses, talking and sharing stories. This time around, they were well-armed and hell-bent on killing anyone they see. That is why even babies were hacked to death.” Kwagh said.

According to him, the community members remained outdoors that evening, unaware of the looming tragedy, until they sought shelter during a downpour.

Kwagh said, “And then the rains started falling down heavily, all of a sudden and everyone rushed to seek refuge under the various shelters. My father, his wife (my step-mother), and six of my siblings now crossed to the other side of the expressway to the other house that was serving as grain stores to get shielded from the rains.

“At this point, there were gunshots everywhere in Yelewata with pandemonium everywhere. Not long enough, I heard cries and shouts across the other side of the road, where my father, step-mother and my other siblings had gone to seek shelter, but with the heavy rain, the noise was too loud to get to know what the shouts/cries were.

“Not until someone came running towards our location with blood all over him and saying that they have come and killing people, that was when I and my mother and the rest of my biological brothers and sisters decided to flee to the place where the security agents were also engaging the attackers from all positions. That was how I was able to escape with my mother and siblings to safety.

“The local vigilantes, the military and police really did their best, but I guess they ran out of ammunition, until reinforcement came in from Makurdi.”

He later returned to the house where his relatives had gone and discovered their charred remains among the burnt stores.

“I was able to go to the very house my father and the other members of our family went to hide, where I discovered his charred remains along with my step-mother and siblings. I was really devastated.

“We had foodstuffs in the store, where we normally go to restock our household. All burnt down along with our family members,” he reportedly said.

He also lamented the loss of not just his loved ones but also his means of livelihood, describing it as a devastating blow to his future.

“My worst fears are that, these deaths have created a vacuum that I cannot fill. I have lost the little investment in terms of my savings, my foodstuffs, seedlings for this year’s planting season and the fear of not being able to go back to farm again… because you never can tell what these pastoralists are capable of doing going further.

“My remaining surviving family is where I am gathering strength from. There is no one except me to cater for their needs. And that as far as there is life, there will be hope too,” he said.

He further blamed the longstanding herder-farmer crisis for the tragedy, noting that tensions had escalated over disputes involving grazing on farmland.

He said, “Before this time, there has been cases of cattle grazing on our farmland and when we arrest the cattle and take to the police authority, the compensation is never commiserate with the value or worth of crops destroyed by the grazing cattle. And we end up getting impoverished every season.

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“Our elders decided to ask them to leave our land, so that they can farm peacefully. That is our only crime. Nobody harmed them. They only said, since we are refusing them to graze on our land, that we too will not know peace. That is their threat to us.

“The world should be told that the peaceful place called Yelewata was massacred by Fulani pastorists, who have been waging war against us, unprovoked attacks, such that we are not able to go to farm to cultivate and grow crops, our only source of livelihood.”

ValidViewNetwork reported on Sunday that at least 45 people were killed in the attacks which started on Friday night and continued to the early hours of Saturday.

President Bola Tinubu has also rescheduled his official visit to Kaduna State saying that he will travel to Benue State on Wednesday as part of renewed efforts to foster peace and address the persistent conflict affecting communities in the state.