By Amos Aar
THE BENUE State Government has announced that internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Yelwata Community in Guma LGA will begin returning home from their temporary camp at the Makurdi International Market on Saturday, July 5, 2025.
The announcement followed a pledge by international partners to support the return effort by restoring key social amenities destroyed during the recent attack by suspected herders and others that became dilapidated having existed for years.
Stakeholders Commit to Rehabilitation Efforts
The State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon. Aondowase Kunde, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Makurdi after a coordination meeting with humanitarian stakeholders.
Participants at the meeting included the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), BENGONET, Community Links, Jaridoo Foundation, BERWASSA, Benue State Bureau of Statistics, and the Ministry of Women Affairs, among others.
Kunde explained that the state had received confirmation from the accreditation committee that Yelwata is now secure for return, a position reinforced after consultations with security agencies and development partners.
Logistics and Reintegration Plans
A return committee, chaired by Kunde, has been tasked with assessing the state of water, sanitation, health, and education facilities in the community to ensure a safe and dignified return process. Vehicles and trucks will be deployed over the weekend to convey the returnees and their belongings.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to Governor Hyacinth Alia for his commitment to the welfare of displaced persons, noting that the governor has mobilised resources to support the return and reintegration process.
Community Assessment and Concerns
Following the government’s decision, UN partners, led by the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), visited Yelwata on Thursday to assess the condition of health and education infrastructure, water facilities, and the overall security environment.
During the visit, local residents, including Mr. William Anger, Kumaga Jõr, and Rev. Fr. Jonathan Ukuma, advocated for the immediate return of their displaced kinsmen, pointing out cases of misrepresentation and inequitable aid distribution at the Makurdi camp.
They claimed that while genuine IDPs from Yelwata number just over 2,000, the official register has ballooned to over 5,000, allowing others to benefit from resources meant for Yelwata victims.
Community representatives stressed that a return would allow international partners and the government to directly support the rebuilding of destroyed infrastructure and ensure proper targeting of humanitarian aid. They added that some victims of the attack have remained in or around Yelwata and would benefit if services were restored locally.
Temporary Housing and Education Plans
In response to inquiries from the IOM on housing arrangements, the community explained that many returnees would temporarily reside in classrooms at UBE Yelwata, where some IDPs already sleep at night.
According to Rev. Fr. Ukuma, St. Joseph’s Parish, Yelwata, would also provide shelter, as it did before the mass displacement. The residents emphasised that this temporary measure would not disrupt learning, as occupants leave the classrooms during the day.
Dire Conditions and Agencies’ Support Plans
However, at the time of the visit, conditions in Yelwata remained dire.
Of the three boreholes in the community, only one is functional when they are powered. The health clinic was structurally dilapidated, lacking beds, equipment, and medicines. The absence of teachers has completely halted school activities, further highlighting the urgent need for intervention.
Also, during the assessment visit, Dr. Matthew Onoja of UNFPA and Dr. Agatha Nzeribe of UNICEF outlined ongoing support efforts for Yelwata IDPs in Makurdi and future plans for the Yelwata Community. Dr. Gerida Birukila of UNICEF assured residents that the organisation would renovate toilets and set up emergency tents, but urged households to also construct private sanitation facilities.
Nzeribe, who spoke on education efforts by UNICEF disclosed that 1,093 children had already been enrolled in camp schools in Makurdi and would continue learning upon return. She warned that halting education would further weaken the future of the affected community and encouraged residents to prioritise continuous learning despite the difficult circumstances.
Dr Onoja raised concerns about the vulnerabilities of returning women who lost their spouses in the attack and may become heads of households. He urged the community to develop internal support structures to assist such individuals, especially in an environment with damaged homes and limited services.
He stressed that while returning to ancestral lands offers long-term stability, doing so without adequate preparation exposes already traumatized individuals to new risks.
Community members also appealed for increased security presence, as some of them cited the continued sighting of armed herders in surrounding areas.
They stressed that while they are ready to welcome back their displaced relatives, sustainable peace and protection remain essential for recovery and reintegration.
