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The Yelewata community on Friday, June 12, 2026, witnessed the unveiling of the Yelewata Genocide Memorial Monument in honour of over 270 Christian farmers killed in coordinated attacks on June 13 and 14, 2025.
The initiative was carried out by the United States-based humanitarian organization, Equipping The Persecuted (ETP), through the efforts of Barr. Franc Utoo, a son of Yelewata. The monument serves as a lasting testament and permanent reminder of the victims who lost their lives in their ancestral homeland.
Executive Director of ETP, Mr. Judd Saul, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting persecuted communities through humanitarian assistance and advocacy. He described the monument as both a tribute to the victims and a historical symbol preserving the experiences and memories of the affected community. Mr. Saul was adorned in traditional Tiv attire in appreciation of his support for victims of persecution.
Mr. Andy Nomsoor, a representative of the organization in Benue, stated that the perpetrators of the attacks were known armed Fulani militias carrying sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 rifles. He argued that the attacks were driven by an agenda of land acquisition and displacement of indigenous communities.
The Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe (William Jikpa Anagbe), expressed concern over the condition of displaced persons and questioned resettlement policies while ancestral communities remain insecure. He highlighted the difficult living conditions faced by displaced families.
A major highlight of the event was the distribution of relief materials to widows and affected families, including mattresses, bags of rice, cooking oil, salt, sanitary pads, clothing, and other essential household items.
