Yelewata Demands 100 Housing Units for Victims After Killing of Over 200 People and Home Destruction

Yelewata community leaders in Benue State’s Guma Local Government Area have urged the state government to build 100 two-bedroom apartments immediately in order to relocate families that were displaced by the June 13, 2025, massacre.
Armed herdsmen reportedly broke into the community during the attack, killing over 200 people, including women and children, and setting homes, market stalls, and other buildings on fire.
Community leader and spokesperson Matthew Mnyan, accompanied by women, youth leaders, and elders, told reporters in Yelewata on Thursday that the situation for survivors was intolerable.
“We’ve endured too much hardship. In a single day, we lost more than 200 of our people. Families were dispersed, our market was devastated, and our homes were set on fire. Mnyan declared, “It’s time to rebuild our community and return our people home.”

The leaders of the community requested the state administration to direct post-massacre donations into concrete restoration projects.

“We are requesting that the Benue State Government construct a minimum of 100 two-bedroom apartments with the donated funds in order to relocate displaced families,” Mnyan said.

“In order for our people to resume their economic activities and start over, we also need our market to be rebuilt.”

The Yelewata leaders also demanded the creation of a mobile police station to improve security and stop further attacks, as well as financial assistance for victims to launch small enterprises.

“Our market needs to be rebuilt,” Mnyan emphasized.

In Yelewata, there would be no economic existence without it. Security is also necessary; having a mobile police station here will give our citizens a sense of security. By taking these actions, the surviving families will be reunited and able to return to their homes.