Benue begins resettlement of Yelewata attack victims – Official

The Benue Government on Monday said it had commenced the resettlement of victims of the June 2025 Yelewata attacks.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Deborah Aber, made the disclosure at a press conference in Makurdi, stating that the Internally Displaced Persons were returning home.

Aber, who is also Chairman of the Technical Committee for Donations for IDPs in Benue, said the state government received donations totalling N1.25 billion from four donors.

The SSG said the committee had already achieved over 85 per cent of its mandate

She listed the donors as Sen. Oluremi Tinubu (N1 billion), the Nasarawa State Government (N150 million), the United Bank for Africa (N100 million) and the Director-General of the DSS (N25 million), totalling N1.27 billion.

Aber explained that the funds were meant to support all victims of attacks in the state, not only those from Yelewata.

She further stated that Governor Hyacinth Alia set up the committee to ensure the effective application of the funds to meet the needs of the people.

According to her, the committee aggregated needs across food, health, shelter, education, livelihood and water.

Aber said N56 million was allocated for cash transfers; N224 million for nutrition and food; N125 million for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); N56 million for security; N56 million for agriculture; N277 million for resettlement; and N112 million for health.

She added that N16 million was allocated for peace and reconciliation; N127 million for host communities; and N148 million for education, among others.

“Working with our international partners, we came up with a model for resettlement that is acceptable worldwide.

It seeks to settle people close to their locations in decent houses close to their farms so they can continue with their livelihood.

“We have land earmarked for this purpose. We had an engagement to construct 60 homes for the displaced population in Yelewata.

“The 60 homes cannot accommodate the IDPs, but that is what the funds can do. Thirty-eight out of the 60 two-bedroom homes are at the roofing stage, with three already roofed.

The state, with this model, will start relocating its citizens to more dignified houses closer to their ancestral homes so that their lives can bear a semblance of normalcy,” she said.

Aber explained that a mapping of beneficiaries was conducted to collate data and ensure the funds reached the intended recipients.

She said host communities were also carried along during the data collation, noting that in some places, displaced persons were not in camps but living with host communities.

Aber also disclosed that 5,883 IDPs had been enrolled in the Benue State Health Insurance Agency, with a premium of N10,000 paid per person to enable them access medical care.

She said the committee had also provided water to some of the affected communities.

“Funds earmarked for education have been used to build four classrooms in Yelewata and provide textbooks and school bags for the pupils.

“We are grateful to our partners; as we speak, UNHCR is building a world-class clinic in Yelewata,” she said. (NAN)