Msurshima Apeh, a survivor of the June 2025 Yelwata attack in Benue State, shared her harrowing experience before the United States Congress on Thursday, describing how she witnessed the killing of her five children during the assault. The hearing focused on President Donald Trump’s decision to place Nigeria back on the Country of Particular Concern list over alleged ongoing religious persecution.
Apeh testified before the House Subcommittee on Africa, recounting the attack. She said, “Around 9 pm that night, Fulani terrorists struck where we were sleeping. We were locked inside the Yelwata camp, and they att+cked us with cutlasses and guns. Later, they poured petrol on the building, setting most of it abl+ze.”
She explained how she survived by climbing a tree while witnessing the d+aths of her children. “I saw a tree, climbed up, and hid myself. My five children, left below, were crying as they were sl+ughtered by the att+ckers,” Apeh said. She later fled into the bush and was rescued, before being relocated to a new camp.
The Yelwata att+ck, carried out by suspected armed herdsmen, claimed numerous lives, including civilians and five security personnel two soldiers, a police officer, and two others. Homes and market stalls were set on fire with petrol, leaving many internally displaced persons bereaved, including a family of 15 who were all k+lled.
In response, President Bola Tinubu postponed other engagements to visit Benue State, promising to assess and address the crisis. During his visit, he met stakeholders and visited victims in hospitals. Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun described the att+cks as thr+ats to national sovereignty, pledged additional deployments to protect lives and property, and confirmed the arrest of 26 suspects linked to the k+llings.
The attacks sparked nationwide outrage, prompting political leaders, religious organizations, and civil society groups to call for justice and stronger security measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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