One one year after, the grief remains freshTears flowed freely as a large crowd yesterday gathered to honour the 276 people murdered in the night raid on Yelewata farming community of Benue State, the Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Most Rev. Wilfred Anagbe described the killings as targeted and well-planned, as he kicked against resettling internally displaced persons outside their communities, saying the only durable solution is to return them to their ancestral homes.
He lamented that Yelewata lies about 50 kilometres from both Lafia and Makurdi on the expressway, yet attackers operated for hours unchallenged.
“This is no longer about climate change or skirmishes. It is genocide,” the Bishop told the gathering, adding that the persecution of Christians in the region had reached an unprecedented level.
The Bishop gave a vivid account of the attack, drawing strong emotions from the crowd.
He noted that one year later, the grief remains fresh.
He thanked activist VeryDarkMan for visiting the scene, Pope Leo for his prayers and Amnesty International for calling on the Nigerian government to end the killings.
He commended legal practitioner Franc Utoo for his role in raising the memorial.
Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro said the day was not for mere mourning but a reminder of the system’s failure to protect citizens.
“Yelewata is on the international map for the wrong reason. Walking around the problem is not a solution. If it is not genocide, then what is it?” he asked.
After the Holy Mass, a 22-foot cenotaph constructed by the Makurdi-Lafia highway was sanctified.
The monument bears the names of the 276 deceased and carries the inscription:
” Yelewata Genocide Memorial Wall
(Victims of Armed Fulani Attack)
June 13–14, 2025″
The service which ended at 2:16 p.m, was blessed with holy water, incense and prayers amidst sorrowful hymns..
