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Once again, Fulani militants have attacked the Yelewata community in Benue State, Nigeria, killing three people and injuring several more. The attack took place on August 11, only two months after more than 200 people in the same area were brutally massacred in the middle of the night. Thousands more remain displaced because of the violence.
"The victims had gone to farm when the armed herders struck," a government official who asked to remain anonymous told a Nigerian news outlet. "Three people were killed, and three others escaped with injuries, while some managed to flee unharmed."
According to Open Doors' local partners, Yelewata is a nearly 100% Christian community of mostly subsistence farmers. Despite the attack in June, some men stayed behind in order to farm their land and make use of the rainy season—all to provide for their families and continue to survive.
"Open Doors condemns in the strongest terms possible the attacks in Benue State."
Jo Newhouse, Open Doors spokesperson
In response to the attack, some of the people from Yelewata—mostly women—blocked a main road in protest. They demanded the government put an end to the attacks and stop Fulani herdsmen from occupying their land; the Fulani are largely a nomadic people, and grazing land is hard to come by, meaning there can be disagreements about land use in places where farmers are settled.
Open Doors' field sources say the protesters also expressed a lack of confidence in the national army stationed in Yelewata and demanded a withdrawal of the troops from their community.
"Women, waving fresh leaves, barricaded the Makurdi-Lafia highway, chanting dirges, and demanding that soldiers leave Yelewata for the barracks, and allow them to defend themselves," echoed The Guardian.
The community, mostly Christians, is still grieving the horrific attacks that took place in June. Most of the inhabitants who fled Yelewata are still in IDP camps in this part of Nigeria. The needs of the displaced people are growing; these believers particularly need food as they've lost their source of livelihood.
That's why Open Doors has launched an emergency campaign to provide 9,000 people with urgent aid over the coming months. If you'd like to give a gift to support the believers from Yelewata who have lost everything, click here.
After this latest attack, Jo Newhouse, spokesperson for Open Doors' work in sub-Saharan Africa commented: "Open Doors condemns in the strongest terms possible the attacks in Benue State. For this pattern of attack on mostly Christian villages to continue without restraint is totally unacceptable. Christians in the Middle Belt of Nigeria need to know their government is willing to do what is needed to secure their safety of all her citizens, regardless of their ethnicity or religion."
