By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (Northern CAN) has distributed relief materials to no fewer than 1,000 vulnerable families in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, as part of efforts to support victims of insecurity and communal violence.
Major beneficiaries of the outreach were victims of the Yelwata attack and other conflict-affected communities who have suffered displacement, loss of livelihoods and prolonged hardship.
The humanitarian exercise was led by the Chairman of Northern CAN, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, alongside the Vice Chairman, Rev. Dr Jona Samson, the Director of Legal Services, Barr. Dr Grace Kaka, and other officials. The intervention was carried out in collaboration with the United Kingdom-based Barnabas Aid Foundation.
Items distributed included bags of rice, beans, maize and garri, as well as palm oil, groundnut oil, sugar and seasonings, aimed at addressing immediate food needs of affected households.
Speaking during the distribution, Rev. Hayab said the intervention was designed to provide urgent support to communities devastated by violent attacks, with special focus on victims of the Yelwata incident. He said Northern CAN deliberately prioritised families affected by killings, displacement and destruction of property as a show of solidarity and compassion.
According to him, the Makurdi outreach is part of a broader humanitarian programme being implemented across several northern states, including Kaduna, Plateau, Borno and Benue.
Rev. Hayab stressed that no Nigerian should lose their life because of their faith, adding that the church would continue to speak against violence while standing with victims through practical support.
The Deputy Chairman of CAN in Benue State, Rev. Jonathan Ugbede, described the outreach as historic and expressed appreciation to Northern CAN and the Barnabas Aid Foundation for what he called an unprecedented show of concern for victims of insecurity in the state.
Rev. Ugbede said Benue had endured persistent attacks for more than 15 years, particularly in areas such as Agatu, Kwande and Gwer West, yet had rarely received humanitarian support of such scale. He noted that the intervention would help cushion the effects of displacement and food scarcity in the state.
Also speaking, Pastor Thomas Okwe Ahutu of Good News Baptist Church, Yelwata, said the attack on the community disrupted daily life, leaving residents in constant fear. He noted that many families had reduced their meals to once a day due to food shortages, adding that the relief materials would significantly ease their suffering.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Esther Zeko, a survivor of the Yelwata attack, described the intervention as timely and comforting. She said her husband was killed during the attack and thanked Northern CAN and Barnabas Aid for remembering her family at a critical moment.
Northern CAN reaffirmed its commitment to sustained humanitarian and advocacy efforts across northern Nigeria, disclosing plans to expand education, healthcare and livelihood support programmes in 2026.
