Mother’s Agony: I Watched Terrorists Kill My 5 Children From Treetop

For Msurshima Apeh, the night of June 13, 2025, is one she will never forget. In the quiet darkness of Yelwata IDP camp, her five children were taken from her in a violent attack, leaving her clinging to life on a treetop while witnessing a tragedy no parent should ever endure.

Appearing virtually before the United States Congress on Thursday, Apeh recounted the horrifying ordeal, describing how the attackers stormed the camp and killed indiscriminately.

“When we went to sleep that night around 9 pm, the Fulani terrorists attacked us where we were sleeping. We were locked inside the camp in Yelwata, and they were butchering them with cutlasses and shooting guns as well.

“When the torture finished at some point, they poured petrol on the building and the majority of them were set ablaze,” Apeh told US lawmakers.

In a desperate bid to survive, she spotted a tree and climbed to safety while her children remained trapped below.

“In the course of this action, I saw a tree when I lifted my eyes. I raised my hands to the tree and climbed up where I was able to hide myself.

“My five children I left below were crying, and in my presence, they were being slaughtered by the terrorists,” she recounted, her voice breaking.

Afterwards, Apeh fled into the bush, hiding until rescuers found her. She was later relocated to another camp along with other survivors.

“I ran into the bush at some point, and those who came for rescue would now bring me out of that place at some point, and I was able to witness the whole drama. When the people came, we were relocated to a new camp,” she said.

The Yelwata attack left dozens dead and displaced scores of families. Benue State has faced recurring attacks over the years, but nothing could have prepared Apeh for the devastating loss she endured that night.