By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
The governments of Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa states have intensified efforts to strengthen collaboration in addressing the growing humanitarian challenges confronting the region.
This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BESEMA), Dr. James Iorpuu, during a media briefing at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) House in Makurdi.
Dr. Iorpuu made the remarks while receiving the Director-General of the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA), Hon. Sunday Abdul, and the Executive Secretary of Plateau State SEMA, Barr. Aquash, who were in Benue to commiserate with the people over the recent attack in Yelwata by suspected armed herders.
Expressing deep concern over the frequency of attacks on Benue communities, Dr. Iorpuu lamented that the state has been under siege since 2011, with violent incidents occurring almost daily.
“Benue State has been under sustained and coordinated attacks since 2011. What happened in Yelwata on June 13, 2025, is beyond imagination. People were sleeping when herders launched an unprovoked attack, killing over 200 innocent people. As we speak, 107 survivors are currently receiving treatment at the Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University Teaching Hospital, formerly known as Benue State University Teaching Hospital,” he said.
Dr. Iorpuu further revealed that a new Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp has been established at the International Market in Makurdi to cater to the victims of the Yelwata attack.
He thanked his counterparts from Plateau and Nasarawa States for their solidarity during Benue’s time of grief and emphasized that the visit would foster stronger ties among the states in addressing humanitarian crises.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NASEMA, Hon. Sunday Abdul, described the attack as an act of inhumanity, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary of Plateau State SEMA, Barr. Aquash, stated that their visit was to express sympathy and to explore areas of collaboration with Benue in tackling the growing humanitarian needs.
“We deemed it necessary to visit, interface with you, and identify collaborative ways to address the humanitarian crisis arising from the Yelwata tragedy,” Barr. Aquash stated.
