The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Monday said that 6,527 people have so far been displaced by the attacks in Benue State.

It also said that over 3,000 displaced residents, including women and children, were in urgent need of food, non-food items, potable water, and essential medical supplies.

NEMA, in a statement on its official X account, said those displaced included 82 pregnant women, 252 lactating mothers, and 657 children under 18.

“As of last night, displacement figures stood at 1,069 households, comprising 6,527 individuals. Among them are 1,768 females, 759 males, 657 children under 18, 1,870 adults above 18, 252 lactating mothers, 82 pregnant women, and 91 elderly persons.

“Urgent humanitarian support is being mobilised and delivered to alleviate the hardship of the displaced persons,” it stated.

The agency said the casualty figures from the attack in the Yelewata community in the Guma Local Government Area were inconsistent due to the volatile security situation and limited access to affected areas.

It, however, said the ongoing rescue and recovery operations were expected to provide more accurate figures.

NEMA said, “Multiple coordinated attacks by unidentified gunmen have targeted various communities across Benue State. The most recent incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday at Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area.

“Casualty figures remain inconsistent due to the volatile security situation and limited access to affected areas. Ongoing rescue and recovery operations are expected to provide more accurate figures.

“Following a distress alert, the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were deployed to the scene. Tragically, two soldiers and one NSCDC officer lost their lives in an ambush while responding to the incident in Daudu.”

It further added that It was collaborating with other local and international agencies to coordinate relief activities for those affected at a newly established Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at the Makurdi International Market.

It disclosed that while dozens sustained injuries in the recent attack, with 46 individuals taken to hospitals, 20 later succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.

The agency added, “Medical teams have called for urgent blood donations to support critical care efforts.

“The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the attack and reported that some of the assailants were neutralised during an exchange of gunfire.

“Meanwhile, efforts to support displaced populations are underway. The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), UNHCR, Red Cross, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) are coordinating relief activities at a newly established Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at the Makurdi International Market.”

Bandits, suspected to be herders, attacked the Yelewata community last Saturday, killing scores of residents.

The incident angered youths in the state who staged a protest in Makurdi on Sunday to for an end to the killings.

The demonstration later turned rowdy when tear gas canisters were fired.

The killings were also condemned by prominent individuals, including a former vice president and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, and the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV.

The State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, while condemning the attack on Sunday disclosed that 59 residents were killed in the incident.

While speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday, the governor refuted claims that the state did not receive security assistance from the Federal Government.

“Seventeen local governments out of 23 were under siege and then we fought it down to nine local governments. We fought it down to six and now to three. It came down because of the full support we got from the Federal Government,” he said. (Channels TV, excluding headline)

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