Survivors of the violent attacks that shook Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State are speaking out, sharing painful stories of the loved ones they lost and the destruction left behind.
One of them, Michael Ajah, gave a heartbreaking account of how at least 20 members of his family were killed during the brutal assault.
In a recorded interview with News Central TV, Ajah, a resident of the area, stood amid the ruins of what was once his home and described the horror he experienced.
“My people, my family members, they died in this house, 11. Some died in the other store, eight, and some died here. My whole family members that died yesterday, the day before yesterday, on that very day, there were 20,” he said. “That is my own family members. I’m not talking about any other thing.”
Ajah pointed to the burnt remains of his house and stores, noting that he not only lost his loved ones but also his belongings and livelihood.
“This is my store. Those shops are my stores. Those places are burnt. My house is up there, that place also is burnt,” he explained. “They burnt my clothes. They burnt everything. They burnt our food. All my family members.”
He added, “What we came out with is our clothes, what we wear. And I, standing here, this is what I came out with. And this is the only thing that I have. There is nothing with me.”
Ajah described the terrifying moment the attackers arrived during a heavy rainstorm, saying the attack began with gunshots around 10:20 p.m.
“On that very day, rain started in the evening. So we entered. I slept there. So, I was sleeping. Around 10.20, we heard gunshots at the back there. So, before we could notice that something has happened, Fulani men, they entered this place,” he recounted.
He noted that he recognized the attackers as Fulani by their voices and language.
“They were speaking and I was inside the room and I heard them clearly, not somebody told me. I was inside the room there and they surrounded that room. I escaped narrowly. My brother was burnt in this house. Some escaped. My dad was burnt in this house.”
Another survivor, Bature Bartholomew, also shared the sorrowful story of losing his younger brother, sister-in-law, and mother—all burnt alive in their house. He noted that his stored goods, including grains like maize and rice, were destroyed in the fire.
“I can’t say precisely because it’s over millions of naira. I store grains like guinea corn, maize, soya beans, rice,” he said. “My younger brother stays here. he’s no longer alive, he was burnt inside this house. He was burnt in this house, yes him, his wife, mother and many others were burnt in this house.”
