Franc Utoo, a native of Yelewata and former Principal Special Assistant to the Benue State Governor, has described the attack on his hometown as a deliberate act of ethnic cleansing, accusing the government of abandoning the community.
According to Daily Post, more than 100 people were killed when suspected herdsmen raided the village in the early hours of Saturday saharareporters.comreddit.com.
In an emotionally charged statement on Saturday, Utoo expressed his heartbreak over the massacre, describing the assault by suspected Fulani militants as “a horrifying act of dehumanization.”
Franc Utoo stated: “They butchered us like animals. Our people weren’t just killed—they were wiped out with such chilling ruthlessness that this wasn’t merely another attack; it was a calculated extermination.
”He added that the assailants, believed to have originated from known terrorist strongholds around the Giza and Kadarko axis in Keana LGA, Nasarawa State, descended on Yelewata between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m., riding over 100 motorcycles and wielding high-grade weaponry.
Franc Utoo also criticized the military’s inaction despite their presence 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 lamented
Franc Utoo also appealed for an independent investigation, immediate deployment of additional security forces, and urgent humanitarian assistance for survivors. He emphasized: “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?”
