Amnesty International confirmed at least 100 deaths, with many still missing. Local leaders and survivors insist the toll is closer to 200, citing mass graves and burned homes.

A survivor of the recent deadly attack on Yelwata community in Benue State, which claimed the lives of scores of people, Joseph Terzdungwe, has recounted his experience at the hands of the attackers.

Amnesty International confirmed at least 100 deaths, with many still missing. Local leaders and survivors insist the toll is closer to 200, citing mass graves and burned homes.

Joseph shared his experience in a video posted by News Central on Thursday.

Narrating his experience, Joseph said, "I have come here for no other reason but for the issue if these herdsmen attack. In May 2025, around 10 pm, I saw Fulani men who came, surrounded us and attacked us.

"They started shooting that night while so many persons were sleeping in the cold of the night. It was raining and because it was raining, people could not run out, and in the confusion, so many persons were killed.

"They came in the rain and they started shooting, and because of the sound of the rain, many people could not hear the sound of their shots, so they were able to kill lots of people. Even as I am here, I was able to escape because God made it happen. All my family members, about eight of them, were all killed. I am the only survivor.

"This is not a one-man thing because this is very sophisticated because they carry a lot of weapons because left for me alone, I cannot fight them, neither can my community nor the state fight these people, but with the support of the overall security, we can overcome this challenge."

Earlier, in a strongly worded message, Amnesty International said: “The horrifying killing of over 100 people by gunmen who invaded Yelewata from late Friday into the early hours of Saturday shows the security measures government claims to be implementing in the state are not working.”

The human rights watchdog decried the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region, warning that “the Nigerian authorities must immediately end the almost daily bloodshed in Benue State and bring the actual perpetrators to justice.”

SaharaReporters also reported that three security operatives lost their lives in the Yelewata assault, while 16 others were wounded.

Earlier, the Tor Tiv V of Benue State, Prof. James Ayatse, stated that the violence plaguing the state should not be described as a farmers-herders crisis or communal conflict.

According to him, what is happening in Benue State is a "genocidal invasion and land grabbing by terrorists."

He made this assertion during President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the state amid rising insecurity.

"We have great concern about the misinformation and misrepresentation of the security crisis in Benue State," the Tor Tiv said.

"Your excellency, it is not herders-farmers clashes, it is not communal clashes, it is not reprisal attacks or skirmishes. It is this misinformation that has led to suggestions such as 'remain tolerant, negotiate for peace, learn to live with your neighbours.' What we are dealing with here in Benue is a calculated, well-planned, full-scale, genocidal invasion and land grabbing campaign by herder terrorists and bandits, which has been on for decades and is worsening every year. Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong results."

"So we are dealing with something far more sinister than we think about. It is not learning to live with your neighbours, it is dealing with the war," he added.

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