The Federal Government has confirmed that more than 3,160 individuals have been displaced following a deadly attack in Yelwata community, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
According to the minister, a recent assessment conducted in collaboration with state authorities and international partners revealed the scale of devastation caused by the violence.
“Following a joint needs assessment in Yelwata, we discovered that 3,160 persons were displaced, including 810 school-aged children,” Yilwatda stated. “About 48 residential houses were destroyed, not counting shops and local businesses also affected by the attack.”
The minister noted that the Federal Government is working closely with the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations, and other development partners to implement a coordinated response plan aimed at restoring normalcy in the community.
“Our response plan is both immediate and long-term. We are looking at emergency relief, peacebuilding, and durable solutions that can rebuild homes, restore livelihoods, and get children back to school,” he explained.
Yilwatda revealed that the proposed intervention will cost an estimated ₦6.7 billion. He added that the European Union has already pledged €1.5 million (approximately ₦2.7 billion), while additional funding is expected from the federal and state governments, as well as international NGOs.
“This is not just a Benue issue. Similar coordinated interventions are currently ongoing in other crisis-hit states like Borno and Niger, where residents face threats from insurgency, flooding, and food insecurity,” the minister said.
He also stressed the need for long-term planning to mitigate humanitarian crises resulting from both natural disasters and human conflict.
“Some of the displacement and suffering we’re witnessing are directly tied to climate change, resource conflict, and terrorism,” he stated. “That’s why our response must go beyond temporary relief to include sustainable recovery.”
The Federal Government’s announcement comes as local and international agencies continue to raise concerns over the worsening humanitarian conditions in Nigeria’s conflict-prone regions.
