Benue State, Nigeria: Humanitarian Crisis Deepens as Attacks Displace Thousands
The Nigerian Federal Government has reported that 3,160 people have been displaced and 48 homes destroyed following significant armed attacks in Benue State. These attacks occurred primarily in the Yelwata, Daudu, and Udei communities of Guma Local Government Area, with the most severe incidents taking place in mid-June 2025. This displacement contributes to a worsening humanitarian situation in the state.
Breakdown of the Attacks and Their Impact:
Timing: The most intense attacks that led to this specific wave of displacement occurred between June 13th and 14th, 2025, particularly devastating the Yelwata community. Sporadic but persistent attacks have continued in various communities across Benue State since then.
Perpetrators: These incidents are largely attributed to armed groups, frequently identified as suspected Fulani militants or armed herdsmen. These groups have been clashing with local farming communities, exacerbating a long-standing conflict over land, water, and grazing resources, often with underlying ethnic and religious tensions.
Casualties: While the Federal Government's report focuses on displacement and property destruction, the attacks were deadly. Reports from various sources, including Amnesty International, UNICEF, and local church contacts, indicate that the Yelwata massacre alone resulted in death tolls ranging from over 100 to more than 200 people. Victims included a broad spectrum of the population, such as women, children, the elderly, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had sought refuge in what they believed were safer areas. A UNFPA situation report for June 2025 indicated that mass killings in Benue State claimed at least 218 lives and displaced nearly 4,800 people in that month alone, the majority of whom were women and girls.
Destruction: Beyond the 48 homes reported destroyed by the Federal Government, there was widespread destruction of harvested crops, food stores, and personal belongings. Some accounts describe bodies being burned beyond recognition. UNICEF noted that the assault led to widespread destruction of homes, harvested crops, food stores, and personal belongings in Yelwata.
Displacement: The 3,160 displaced individuals represent a portion of a larger and ongoing displacement crisis in Benue State. Amnesty International reported on July 10, 2025, that over 510,182 people are internally displaced across Benue State due to such attacks, making it one of the highest concentrations of IDPs in Nigeria. More than 10,000 additional people have been displaced across various communities since the start of 2025. Many of these displaced persons are living in overcrowded and unsanitary IDP camps.
Humanitarian Crisis: The displacement has led to a severe humanitarian crisis. Affected populations face dire conditions, including a critical lack of sufficient safe water, poor sanitation (with 76% of households reporting difficulty accessing water and 51% relying on unsafe sources), pervasive food insecurity (90% of households), health challenges, inadequate medical services, and protection concerns. Children are particularly vulnerable, with hundreds reportedly separated from their families while fleeing the attacks.
Government and International Response:
Presidential Visit: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu visited Benue State on June 18, 2025, condemning the killings and pledging improved security presence. He directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to coordinate immediate support for displaced families.
Relief Efforts: Government agencies and humanitarian organizations, including UNICEF and the European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), are providing initial support. This includes interventions in areas such as water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), non-food items, food, and health services. UNICEF conducted a rapid needs assessment, identifying food (72%), shelter (41%), WASH (76%), and protection (26%) as top urgent needs among displaced households.
Calls for Action: International organizations like Amnesty International and Genocide Watch have strongly condemned the violence, calling for immediate and decisive action from Nigerian authorities to end the bloodshed, investigate the atrocities, and prosecute those responsible. There are also calls for greater international pressure and recognition of the severity of the crisis, with Amnesty International stating that Nigerian authorities have "failed the people of Benue State again and again."
Challenges: Despite some government efforts, concerns persist regarding the ongoing nature of the attacks and the overwhelming scale of humanitarian needs. The Global Governance Africa (GGA) highlights that the government's repeated failures to protect lives, enforce laws, or provide justice can erode public confidence, suggesting the situation borders on a legitimacy crisis.
In essence, the Federal Government's report on the 3,160 displaced persons and 48 destroyed homes underscores a recent devastating consequence of the protracted farmer-herder conflict and armed group activities in Benue State, contributing to a broader and worsening humanitarian crisis in the region.
I'm Aisha shehu
Talksocialtalka News
