Over 100 victims of the recent deadly assault in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, are still receiving medical attention weeks after the tragedy, the Benue State Emergency Management Agency has revealed.
The agency’s Executive Secretary, James Iorpuu, said on Tuesday that 107 survivors of the June 13 attack were currently being treated at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) and other medical facilities in the state.
He described the level of devastation inflicted by the attackers as overwhelming.
“We still have 107 persons receiving treatment at BSUTH and other hospitals,” Iorpuu stated. “The Yelwata incident was a brutal attack that left over 200 people dead. We pray such carnage never happens again in Benue State.”
Speaking during a joint media briefing with emergency management counterparts from Nasarawa and Plateau states in Makurdi, Iorpuu, who also serves as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, condemned the persistent invasion of rural communities by armed men.
He noted that the presence of officials from neighbouring states signified regional solidarity and a shared commitment to tackle insecurity in the North Central region.
“We’re working together to find lasting solutions. Many of these armed attackers come through Nasarawa State to strike in Benue,” he said.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Ben Akwash, said their visit was not only to commiserate with the people of Benue but also to discuss joint security strategies and preparedness for future disasters.
“We believe collaboration among our states is key. Beyond this unfortunate incident, we’re also looking at joint planning ahead of anticipated flood disasters,” Akwash said.
His Plateau State counterpart, Mr. Sunday Abdu, extended condolences on behalf of his state and highlighted the shared pain of communities across the region affected by similar violent attacks.
“This kind of aggression that Benue is experiencing is also affecting Plateau and other parts of the North Central. We pray that God protects our women, children, and families. We’re here not only to sympathise but also to learn from Benue’s response efforts,” Abdu said.
The Yelwata massacre, which reportedly claimed over 200 lives, has once again drawn attention to the escalating violence in the region and renewed calls for greater collaboration among state governments and federal authorities to halt further bloodshed.
