A survivor of the June 2025 Yelwata massacre in Benue State, Mrs. Msurshima Apeh, delivered a heartbreaking testimony before the United States House Subcommittee on Africa on Thursday, recounting how armed terrorists murdered her five children during a night attack on their settlement.
The hearing was part of discussions surrounding President Donald Trump’s decision to return Nigeria to the Country of Particular Concern list over alleged religious persecution.
Joining virtually from Benue State, Mrs. Apeh narrated the horror of the attack carried out by suspected armed herdsmen.
She recalled that the attackers struck around 9 p.m. while displaced families were asleep inside the Yelwata camp:
“They locked us inside the building and began butchering people with cutlasses while shooting. When they were done, they poured petrol on the house and set it on fire.”
Amid the chaos, she survived by climbing a tree—but was forced to watch her children being murdered.
“My five children were crying below. In my presence, they were slaughtered by the terrorists,” she said.
After escaping into the bush, she was later rescued and relocated to another IDP camp.
The June attack left dozens dead, including five security operatives—two soldiers, a police officer, and two others. Homes, shops, and an IDP shelter were razed. Entire families were wiped out, including one with 15 members.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cut short other engagements to visit Benue shortly after the massacre, promising urgent action. He met with community leaders, security agencies, and families of victims.
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun condemned the killings as a threat to national sovereignty, announcing the arrest of 26 suspects and the deployment of additional security personnel.
The incident triggered nationwide outrage, with civic groups, religious organisations, and political leaders demanding justice and stronger protection for vulnerable communities across Benue and the Middle Belt.
The U.S. hearing is expected to influence international discussions on Nigeria’s security crisis and the protection of religious minorities.
Credit: Punch News
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