Yelwata: A Community Recovering, Resettling After Heinous Attacks

Yelewata, a Benue community located on the Lafia-Makurdi Expressway, is recovering from the 2025 attack that claimed lives and destroyed property. AZA MSUE writes on the efforts Governor Hyacinth Alia is making to resettle the displaced victims and survivors

On 14 June 2025, the once peaceful community of Yelwata in the Guma local government area of Benue State was thrown into mourning over the heinous attack and horrific killings of over 100 residents, including women and children, during a night raid by terrorists.

The attack left homes razed and thousands of people displaced.

Properties worth billions of naira were destroyed as survivors and victims took refuge in internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps.

The attack received condemnation from the local and global communities.

To rebuild and resettle the Yelwata community, Nigeria’s first lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, had donated N1 billion, with contributions from other partners totalling about N1.275 billion.

In January 2026, the Benue State government unveiled a multi-billion-naira resettlement project to provide housing and other social amenities, such as a clinic and a school, for the victims of the attack.

Secretary to the Benue State government and chairman, Technical Committee on Relief and Resettlement, Deborah Aber, had stated that the first phase of the Yelwata Resettlement Project would provide 60 two-bedroom housing units.

To this end, the Benue State government said Governor Alia’s administration is building 60 new two-bedroom homes and classroom blocks in Yelewata, replacing overcrowded camps with structured communities.

The government said 53 of the 60 have reached lintel level, demonstrating the governor’s commitment to establishing Benue as a national benchmark for humane, data-driven resettlement and sustainable community recovery.

The government further explained that the governor is making significant strides in its recovery efforts for victims of the Yelewata attacks, with the administration combining immediate humanitarian support and a structured resettlement programme aimed at restoring stability, dignity and livelihoods to affected families.

A statement by the technical adviser to the governor on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, Solomon Iorpev, recently said the resettlement programme focused on returning families to their ancestral lands, with 5,883 internally displaced persons (IDPs) enrolled in the Benue State Health Insurance Scheme just as new medical and sanitation facilities are under construction to improve public health and protect against diseases like lassa fever.

He added that as part of urgent relief measures, the Benue State government has disbursed N56 million in direct cash aid to 1,000 verified households, providing N50,000 each to support families in meeting essential needs such as food, medicine and small-scale trade.

According to Governor Alia, the government also deployed a specialised technical committee to verify beneficiaries and ensure accountability, guaranteeing that every naira reaches its intended recipients.

“Through these initiatives, the Benue State government is working towards restoring stability, dignity and livelihoods to affected families, and promoting a brighter future for the people of Yelewata and the state as a whole,” Alia said.

Apart from the resettlement efforts, Governor Alia had welcomed a team of forensic pathologists from the Federal Ministry of Justice, deployed to Yelwata to gather forensic evidence from the gruesome murders.

The deployment of pathologists to Yelwata came as the Federal Government arraigned nine suspects on 2 February 2026, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The court had emphasised the need for forensic evidence to ensure a fair trial and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The governor, represented by the director general, Homeland Security, Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuan (rtd), and the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Yangien Ornguga, assured the forensic team of maximum cooperation as they carried out their work, which lasted for one week.

He said the government is committed to working with all stakeholders to uncover the truth behind the Yelwata attack and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

Governor Alia urged citizens to remain calm and support the government’s efforts to ensure justice is served.

One of the survivors of the attack, Tersoo Samuel, who fled the settlement after the deadly attack and relocated to Makurdi, the state capital, said it was the right step to resettle the displaced residents.

“It will be a big relief for the community. I was doing my business, but since the attack occurred, killing over a hundred people, I am riding an okada (commercial motorcycle) in Makurdi to feed my family. I’m not an indigene of the area, but I was doing business and farming there,” he said.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP Sunday, a Makurdi-based legal practitioner and chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Gboko Branch, Felix Zahemen Uwar, said Governor Alia’s efforts to resettle victims of the Yelwata attack were commendable.

Uwar said, “The security and welfare of the people is the primary responsibility of the government. See section 14(2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended. The resettlement of the displaced people of Yelwata by His Excellency, Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia, is a testament to the fact that he is committed to the welfare of the people.”

On his part, a Kaduna-based legal practitioner, Hiifan Abuul Andrew, told our correspondent that the Benue State government’s resettlement of internally displaced persons shows that Governor Alia is committed to the welfare of the people.

“The IDPs’ resettlement effort by His Excellency Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia is evidence of his commitment to alleviating the plights of the internally displaced persons in Benue, aside from other numerous relief interventions. This effort has buttressed the governor’s humane disposition, concern for the general welfare of his people, and commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises. It’s my appeal that other political officeholders emulate the template established by the governor,” Abuul said.