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The Benue State Government has commenced the resettlement of victims displaced by the June 13, 2025, attacks on Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area, with many internally displaced persons (IDPs) now returning to their ancestral homes.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chairman of the Technical Committee for Donations for IDPs, Mrs. Deborah Aber, disclosed this on Monday during a press conference in Makurdi. She stated that the state received donations totalling ₦1.27 billion from four key donors to support victims of attacks across the state, not limited to Yelewata.
The donors include Senator Oluremi Tinubu (₦1 billion), Nasarawa State Government (₦150 million), United Bank for Africa (₦100 million), and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (₦25 million).
Mrs. Aber revealed that the committee has achieved over 85 per cent of its mandate, with funds allocated across critical needs: ₦56 million for cash transfers; ₦224 million for nutrition and food; ₦125 million for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); ₦56 million for security; ₦56 million for agriculture; ₦277 million for resettlement; ₦112 million for health; ₦16 million for peace and reconciliation; ₦127 million for host communities; and ₦148 million for education, among others.
She explained that the resettlement model prioritises settling people in decent houses close to their farms to sustain livelihoods and restore normalcy. The committee earmarked land and planned to construct 60 two-bedroom homes in Yelewata, of which 38 are at the roofing stage and three already roofed.
Aber noted that a comprehensive mapping of beneficiaries was conducted to ensure transparency and reach the intended recipients, including those living with host communities rather than in formal camps. She disclosed that 5,883 IDPs have been enrolled in the Benue State Health Insurance Agency, with ₦10,000 premiums paid per person to provide access to medical care.
The committee has also supported education by building four classrooms in Yelewata, supplying textbooks, and providing school bags for pupils. Aber expressed gratitude to international partners, highlighting that UNHCR is currently constructing a world-class clinic in Yelewata.
Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia established the committee to ensure effective and transparent utilisation of donations to meet the needs of affected communities and promote lasting peace and recovery in the state.
