Bloodbath in Benue: Amnesty International Calls on Nigerian Government to End Killings, Prosecute Perpetrators

The global human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, has issued a strong call to the Nigerian authorities to urgently halt the ongoing bloodshed in Benue State, following the recent massacre of over 100 people in Yelewata community.

According to Amnesty, the attack, which began late Friday, June 13, and continued into the early hours of Saturday, June 14, 2025, is yet another stark reminder that the Nigerian government’s security strategy in the state is failing.

“The horrifying killing of over 100 people by gunmen that invaded Yelewata… shows the security measures government claims to be implementing in the state are not working,” Amnesty International said in a statement.

Survivors of the attack recount a night of unimaginable horror. Many families, according to eyewitnesses, were locked inside their homes and set ablaze. Charred remains of victims, including children and elderly residents, littered the community by dawn. Dozens of others sustained life-threatening injuries, many of whom are yet to receive adequate medical attention. Scores are still missing, raising fears that the actual death toll may rise significantly in the coming days.

The attack on Yelewata is just the latest in a disturbing pattern of deadly violence sweeping across Benue State in recent years. Amnesty International said it has been documenting the increasing frequency and brutality of attacks carried out by gunmen, often referred to locally as bandits or unidentified armed herders.

“These killings have been carried out with utter impunity,” the organization said. “The Nigerian authorities’ failure to stem the violence is costing people their lives and livelihoods.”

The organization warned that if the federal government continues to treat these attacks with what it described as “institutional indifference,” the crisis could deepen further.

Amnesty expressed particular concern about the impact of the violence on the region’s already fragile food security. Most of the victims of the attacks are rural farmers, whose displacement is already disrupting agricultural activities across several local government areas in the state.

“Massive displacement caused by the attacks is threatening the livelihoods of thousands and may worsen the food crisis,” the organization warned.

In Yelewata, residents described how attackers stormed the village in large numbers, wielding firearms, machetes, and petrol bombs. Local sources said the assault was carried out with a level of coordination that suggests a premeditated plan and, possibly, external support or internal sabotage.

One eyewitness told reporters that the attackers moved from house to house, shooting indiscriminately and setting buildings on fire. “People were screaming, begging for their lives, but the gunmen didn’t care. They set homes ablaze with people inside,” the witness said.

Despite these repeated atrocities, Amnesty noted that little to no progress has been made in bringing the perpetrators to justice. Communities remain vulnerable, with little protection from law enforcement or the military.

“The Nigerian authorities must immediately end the almost daily bloodshed in Benue state and bring the actual perpetrators to justice,” Amnesty’s statement read.

The human rights body called for an independent investigation into the Yelewata massacre and previous attacks in the region. It emphasized the need for transparency, justice for victims, and accountability for those who fail in their duty to protect the citizens.

The Benue State Government has yet to provide a full casualty figure or comment on the latest killings at the time of this report. However, community leaders and civil society organizations have continued to raise the alarm, urging both state and federal governments to act swiftly.

Security experts and analysts have long warned that the Nigerian government’s reactive approach to violence in the Middle Belt region is unsustainable. Without a proactive, intelligence-led strategy that addresses both immediate security concerns and the underlying issues—such as land use conflicts, displacement, and ethnic tensions—the violence is likely to escalate further.

Meanwhile, families in Yelewata are left to mourn their dead, search for the missing, and piece together what remains of their shattered lives. For them, justice seems like a distant hope in a nation where impunity has often been the rule rather than the exception.

Amnesty International’s renewed appeal places the spotlight once more on President Bola Tinubu’s administration and its commitment to ending insecurity in the country. As communities continue to count their dead, all eyes will be on Abuja—waiting to see if action will follow this time.