A former Principal Special Assistant to the Benue State Governor, Franc Utoo, a native of Yelewata has described the attack on his hometown as a deliberate act of ethnic cleansing and government abandonment.
Recall that over 100 persons were reported killed after suspected herdsmen invaded the community in the early hours of Saturday.
In an emotionally charged statement issued on Saturday, Utoo expressed heartbreak over the massacre of his villagers in the assault by suspected Fulani militants, describing it as “a horrifying act of dehumanization.”
He said, “They butchered us like animals. Our people were not just killed; they were wiped out with a chilling ruthlessness that suggests this was more than just another attack, it was an orchestrated extermination.”
According to him, the attackers, believed to have launched from known terrorist bases in the Giza and Kadarko axis of Keana LGA in Nasarawa State, invaded Yelewata between 10 pm and 3 am, riding over 100 motorbikes and carrying high-grade weapons.
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He also lamented the absence of military resistance, despite the presence of security forces in the area.
“There were soldiers in Yelewata. They were supposed to protect us. But during the attack, they did absolutely nothing. Their inaction is not just suspicious, it’s disgraceful,” he added.
Utoo further called for an independent investigation, immediate deployment of security reinforcements, and emergency humanitarian support for survivors, saying, “Yelewata is not just a dot on the map. It is home to thousands of peace-loving people who deserve the right to live without fear. The blood of our people cries out. If this isn’t genocide, then what is?”
