By Prosper Mene
A recent attack on Yelewata community in Benue State’s Guma Local Government Area has left 5,294 people displaced, including 380 pregnant women and 2,536 children. The affected individuals are currently taking shelter at a temporary IDP camp in Makurdi’s Ultra-Modern International Market, underscoring the dire humanitarian situation caused by the violence.
The attack, which occurred on June 13, 2025, saw suspected armed herdsmen storm Yelewata, killing over 150 people, including women, children, and five security personnel, while setting homes ablaze. Survivors described a night of terror, with gunmen opening fire on sleeping villagers, leaving many traumatized and dozens still missing. The violence, attributed to ongoing farmer-herder conflicts, has displaced over 2,336 households, forcing them to seek safety in the overcrowded camp.
Camp manager Robert Nyom, in a briefing in Makurdi, detailed the camp’s demographics, noting 233 elderly women and 181 elderly men among the displaced. The camp has become a critical hub for humanitarian aid, with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) providing over 30,000 liters of water daily and vaccinating over 1,000 children aged 0-59 months against polio. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has supported 10 safe deliveries and provided antenatal care to over 368 pregnant women, though the needs remain immense.
Despite government and humanitarian efforts, challenges persist. BSEMA has reported that 15 women have given birth in the camp, with 122 others still pregnant as of late June. However, survivors have resisted calls from traditional rulers and the Benue State government to return to Yelewata, citing ongoing insecurity. On July 8, IDPs protested at the camp, arguing that their community remains unsafe and uninhabitable, especially after the June attack claimed over 200 lives, including eight members of one family.
The Benue State government has promised to ensure safety before facilitating returns, but tensions remain high. Allegations of aid diversion and the arrest of 50 individuals posing as IDPs have further complicated relief efforts. Local leaders and survivors, including Joseph Kwagh, who lost eight family members, have called for stronger security measures and federal intervention to address the root causes of the violence, which some describe as ethnic cleansing.
UNICEF has emphasized the need for mental health support for traumatized IDPs, with over 200 receiving daily medical attention. Community leaders and organizations like Club De Pals have urged authorities to bring perpetrators to justice and address the systemic issues fueling the farmer-herder conflict. As the crisis lingers, the people of Yelewata remain in limbo, seeking safety and justice in the face of unimaginable loss.