{"id":359699,"date":"2025-06-24T10:25:53","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T09:25:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/?p=359699"},"modified":"2025-06-24T10:25:53","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T09:25:53","slug":"cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/","title":{"rendered":"COLD MURDER, WARM SILENCE: Over 100 killed in Benue, but no one held accountable"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li class=\"ai-optimize-6 ai-optimize-introduction\"><strong>Gunmen stormed Yelwata at night, killing over 100 residents and burning homes in a coordinated, brutal assault.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"ai-optimize-7\"><strong>Attackers used bush paths and fire to trap villagers, many burned alive or hacked down while fleeing their homes.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-8\"><strong>Yelwata: A QUIET VILLAGE MARKED BY TRAGEDY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-9\">Nestled quietly along the busy Keffi\u2013Benue\u2013Enugu highway, Yelwata is a small community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-9\">Just about 50 kilometers from Makurdi, the state capital, Yelwata lived in the shadows of power and progress, maintaining a slow, peaceful rhythm untouched by the noise of politics or modern ambition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-10\">There were no grand structures or public spectacles\u2014just a people content with the basics: farming, raising families, and seeing each new harvest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-10\">Although the village bordered Nasarawa State and sat along a major transport route, it remained largely neglected by authorities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-10\">But that neglect never gave rise to bitterness. Life was simple and neighborly, built on hard work and mutual respect.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-11\">For the men, farming was more than livelihood\u2014it was legacy. They rose with the sun to tend to cassava, maize, and yam fields.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-11\">The women, resilient and industrious, juggled agriculture with small-scale trading. Children played barefoot in the red dust, untouched by the worries of the world beyond.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-12\">Until everything changed on a rainy Friday night\u2014June 13.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-12\"><strong>A NIGHT OF FIRE AND GUNSHOTS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-13\">That evening, rain had softened the air, bringing with it the comfort of routine. Cooking fires died down as families retreated indoors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-13\">The only sounds were frogs and crickets in the dark. Then, around 11 p.m., chaos erupted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-14\">Gunfire shattered the stillness, originating from the direction of the village\u2019s new market.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-14\">Local police responded quickly, but the attackers\u2014suspected to be heavily armed herders\u2014outnumbered and outmaneuvered them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-15\">\u201cThey surrounded us from every angle,\u201d one resident recounted. While some attackers drew attention with gunfire, others slipped in quietly through nearby bush paths, setting houses ablaze with petrol. Those who tried to escape the flames were met with machetes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-16\">By dawn on June 14, more than 100 people were confirmed dead. The final number would climb higher. Survivors moved through the ruins in silence, overwhelmed by a grief too deep for words.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-16\"><strong>SURVIVORS SPEAK THROUGH THE ASHES<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-17\">Joy Vitalise, a 27-year-old mother of four, stood before what used to be her provision store. She recalled hiding across the road, peering through a small opening as her village burned.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-18\">\u201cThey wore flowing clothes and carried bags across their shoulders,\u201d she said, describing the attackers\u2019 dress. \u201cI could hear them shouting in Hausa, daring anyone to fight back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-19\">Her husband, along with others, hid in the shop and survived by pure luck. But many others weren\u2019t as fortunate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-20\">For Titus Tsegba, a 65-year-old farmer, the attack stole nearly everything. His wife and four of his seven children were killed. \u201cWhat kind of life is left for me now?\u201d he asked, staring blankly at the remnants of his home.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-21\">He had stayed behind in a nearby town the night of the attack, calling repeatedly to check on his family.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-21\">None of the calls went through. By morning, his worst fears were confirmed: his family was gone, and their house was in ashes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-22\"><strong>A FUTURE LOST IN THE FLAMES<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-23\">Terhemba Iormba, a once-thriving rice trader, lost not just his business but his entire household.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-23\">He had hidden with his wives and relatives in one of his storage buildings filled with over N40 million worth of rice. The attackers torched it, and only Terhemba made it out alive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-24\">His brother, Matthew\u2014a recent pharmacy graduate with dreams of opening a clinic\u2014was also killed. \u201cHe was our future,\u201d Terhemba wept. \u201cNow, there\u2019s nothing left.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-25\">James Koryol, a high school student from Makurdi, lost his sponsor and guardian, Terlumun Zer, in the attack.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-25\">Zer had believed deeply in the young man\u2019s academic future, often saying James would one day become a professor. That dream, too, now lies under the rubble.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-26\"><strong>WHEN REINFORCEMENTS NEVER CAME<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-27\">Although police officers stationed in Yelwata responded quickly, their efforts were no match for the scale of the assault.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-27\">Requests for backup\u2014especially from the nearby Tactical Air Command in Makurdi\u2014went unanswered. Many in the village believe the lack of response was intentional.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-28\">\u201cWe made the calls. We pleaded. No help came,\u201d said one resident who asked to remain unnamed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-29\">Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the violence and visited the area, promising justice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-29\">But President Bola Tinubu\u2019s statement referring to the incident as a &#8220;reprisal&#8221; angered locals. \u201cWe did nothing to provoke this,\u201d said Fr. Jonathan, a Catholic priest in the community.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-30\">James Ortese Ayatse, the paramount ruler of the Tiv people, responded sharply. \u201cThis isn\u2019t a clash. It\u2019s a systematic invasion. If the federal government misdiagnoses the problem, any solution will fail,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-30\"><b>A PATTERN OF VIOLENCE<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-31\">Yelwata\u2019s tragedy is not an isolated one. Benue State has endured repeated attacks over the past decade.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-31\">In 2018 alone, over 1,500 people were killed in similar violence. Entire communities have been forced into IDP camps, their lives forever disrupted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-32\">Community leaders believe the attackers retreat into Nasarawa State after their missions. \u201cThis was a calculated act, not a spontaneous conflict,\u201d said retired soldier Ikyapa Timothy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-33\">Even Fr. Jonathan, whose church sheltered fleeing residents, agreed. \u201cWe heard their voices and saw the terror firsthand. There was no provocation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-34\"><strong>THE ROAD AHEAD<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-35\">Today, what&#8217;s left of Yelwata is mostly rubble and memory. Aid agencies and government bodies have begun providing food and temporary shelter. But for survivors, no amount of assistance can replace what was lost.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-36\">Tents may shield them from rain, but not from grief. Bags of rice cannot stand in for loved ones. And no politician\u2019s promise can restore dreams crushed in a single night.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-37\">Once an overlooked village, Yelwata now stands as a grim symbol of what\u2019s at stake when communities are abandoned and justice delayed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ai-optimize-37\">The people pray this will be the last time they are forced to dig mass graves\u2014for a generation that never got to grow old.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gunmen stormed Yelwata at night, killing over 100 residents and burning homes in a coordinated, brutal assault. Attackers used bush paths and fire to trap villagers, many burned alive or hacked down while fleeing their homes. Yelwata: A QUIET VILLAGE MARKED BY TRAGEDY Nestled quietly along the busy Keffi\u2013Benue\u2013Enugu highway, Yelwata is a small community [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":359700,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"subtitle":"","format":"standard","override":[{"template":"2","single_blog_custom":"211693","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"1","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"1","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"0","show_post_related":"0","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0"},"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_override_bookmark_settings":{"override_bookmark_button":"0","override_show_bookmark_button":"0"},"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[664,87756,87754,303,87755],"class_list":["post-359699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local","tag-benue-state","tag-guma-local-government-area","tag-keffi-benue-enugu-highway","tag-nigeria","tag-yelwata-is-a-small-community"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>COLD MURDER, WARM SILENCE: Over 100 killed in Benue, but no one held accountable<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Nestled quietly along the busy Keffi\u2013Benue\u2013Enugu highway, Yelwata is a small community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"COLD MURDER, WARM SILENCE: Over 100 killed in Benue, but no one held accountable\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Gunmen stormed Yelwata at night, killing over 100 residents and burning homes in a coordinated, brutal assault. Attackers used bush paths and fire to trap\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NEWS PICKS \u2014 WITHIN NIGERIA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/withinnigeria\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-06-24T09:25:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/06\/IMG-20250624-WA0029.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"960\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"540\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"W.N YEMI\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@withinnigeria\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@withinnigeria\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"W.N YEMI\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/24\\\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/24\\\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"W.N YEMI\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/4221175acddc475fe3e75b09b205f061\"},\"headline\":\"COLD MURDER, WARM SILENCE: Over 100 killed in Benue, but no one held accountable\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-24T09:25:53+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/24\\\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1023,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/24\\\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/5\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/IMG-20250624-WA0029.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Benue State\",\"Guma Local Government Area\",\"Keffi\u2013Benue\u2013Enugu highway\",\"Nigeria\",\"Yelwata is a small community\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Local News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/24\\\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/24\\\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/24\\\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\\\/\",\"name\":\"COLD MURDER, WARM SILENCE: Over 100 killed in Benue, but no one held accountable\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/24\\\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/24\\\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/5\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/IMG-20250624-WA0029.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-24T09:25:53+00:00\",\"description\":\"Nestled quietly along the busy Keffi\u2013Benue\u2013Enugu highway, Yelwata is a small community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/24\\\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/24\\\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/24\\\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/5\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/IMG-20250624-WA0029.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/5\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/IMG-20250624-WA0029.jpg\",\"width\":960,\"height\":540},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/24\\\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"COLD MURDER, WARM SILENCE: Over 100 killed in Benue, but no one held accountable\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/\",\"name\":\"NEWS\",\"description\":\"Latest &amp; Trending Nigeria News, Entertainment, Sports\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"WITHN NIGERIA MEDIA LIMITED\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/5\\\/2021\\\/01\\\/Logo-dark-bg.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/5\\\/2021\\\/01\\\/Logo-dark-bg.png\",\"width\":750,\"height\":500,\"caption\":\"WITHN NIGERIA MEDIA LIMITED\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/facebook.com\\\/withinnigeria\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/withinnigeria\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/withinnigeria\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/withinnigeria\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UCo0qw0SqhKNTsQQM48FpdTA\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/4221175acddc475fe3e75b09b205f061\",\"name\":\"W.N YEMI\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4a014bd79dd8ad3a272a49b5ec405f49e6a4a4d1e362a3a8f31a44274809f277?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4a014bd79dd8ad3a272a49b5ec405f49e6a4a4d1e362a3a8f31a44274809f277?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4a014bd79dd8ad3a272a49b5ec405f49e6a4a4d1e362a3a8f31a44274809f277?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"W.N YEMI\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.withinnigeria.com\\\/news\\\/author\\\/abdullah\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"COLD MURDER, WARM SILENCE: Over 100 killed in Benue, but no one held accountable","description":"Nestled quietly along the busy Keffi\u2013Benue\u2013Enugu highway, Yelwata is a small community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"COLD MURDER, WARM SILENCE: Over 100 killed in Benue, but no one held accountable","og_description":"Gunmen stormed Yelwata at night, killing over 100 residents and burning homes in a coordinated, brutal assault. Attackers used bush paths and fire to trap","og_url":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/","og_site_name":"NEWS PICKS \u2014 WITHIN NIGERIA","article_publisher":"https:\/\/facebook.com\/withinnigeria","article_published_time":"2025-06-24T09:25:53+00:00","og_image":[{"width":960,"height":540,"url":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/06\/IMG-20250624-WA0029.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"W.N YEMI","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@withinnigeria","twitter_site":"@withinnigeria","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"W.N YEMI","Estimated reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/"},"author":{"name":"W.N YEMI","@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/4221175acddc475fe3e75b09b205f061"},"headline":"COLD MURDER, WARM SILENCE: Over 100 killed in Benue, but no one held accountable","datePublished":"2025-06-24T09:25:53+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/"},"wordCount":1023,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/06\/IMG-20250624-WA0029.jpg","keywords":["Benue State","Guma Local Government Area","Keffi\u2013Benue\u2013Enugu highway","Nigeria","Yelwata is a small community"],"articleSection":["Local News"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/","url":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/","name":"COLD MURDER, WARM SILENCE: Over 100 killed in Benue, but no one held accountable","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/06\/IMG-20250624-WA0029.jpg","datePublished":"2025-06-24T09:25:53+00:00","description":"Nestled quietly along the busy Keffi\u2013Benue\u2013Enugu highway, Yelwata is a small community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/06\/IMG-20250624-WA0029.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/06\/IMG-20250624-WA0029.jpg","width":960,"height":540},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/2025\/06\/24\/cold-murder-warm-silence-over-100-killed-in-benue-but-no-one-held-accountable\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"COLD MURDER, WARM SILENCE: Over 100 killed in Benue, but no one held accountable"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/","name":"NEWS","description":"Latest &amp; Trending Nigeria News, Entertainment, Sports","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/#organization","name":"WITHN NIGERIA MEDIA LIMITED","url":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/01\/Logo-dark-bg.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/01\/Logo-dark-bg.png","width":750,"height":500,"caption":"WITHN NIGERIA MEDIA LIMITED"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/facebook.com\/withinnigeria","https:\/\/x.com\/withinnigeria","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/withinnigeria\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/withinnigeria\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCo0qw0SqhKNTsQQM48FpdTA"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/4221175acddc475fe3e75b09b205f061","name":"W.N YEMI","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4a014bd79dd8ad3a272a49b5ec405f49e6a4a4d1e362a3a8f31a44274809f277?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4a014bd79dd8ad3a272a49b5ec405f49e6a4a4d1e362a3a8f31a44274809f277?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4a014bd79dd8ad3a272a49b5ec405f49e6a4a4d1e362a3a8f31a44274809f277?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"W.N YEMI"},"url":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/author\/abdullah\/"}]}},"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/359699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=359699"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/359699\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":359702,"href":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/359699\/revisions\/359702"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/359700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=359699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=359699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=359699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}