By Deborah Nnamdi
Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has revealed that at least 3,160 people have been displaced in Yelwata community, Benue State, due to recent violent attacks.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, the minister described the situation in Yelwata as one of several humanitarian crises currently confronting the federal government. Others include widespread flooding, insurgency, and rising child malnutrition, particularly in northern Nigeria.
“Recently, we experienced the Mokwa flood, killings in Plateau and Benue, and the ongoing crisis in Borno,” Professor Yilwatda noted. “Malnutrition among displaced children has also significantly worsened.”
Following President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Benue and a subsequent directive, the Ministry conducted a needs assessment in Yelwata. The findings were grim.
“In Yelwata, we found that 3,160 individuals were displaced, including about 810 school-aged children,” the minister reported. “We also lost roughly 48 homes, and several shops and small businesses were destroyed.”
Professor Yilwatda stressed that the scale of these challenges requires collaborative efforts from all stakeholders — federal and state governments, NGOs, and international partners.
“The federal government cannot address these issues alone,” he said. “We need a coordinated and comprehensive response from all relevant partners.”
As part of its intervention, the Ministry has engaged with local communities, authorities, and humanitarian agencies to develop a sustainable response strategy.
“We conducted a thorough assessment, focusing on immediate humanitarian needs, peace-building measures, and long-term solutions for displaced persons,” he added.
