Benue Government Disburses ₦50,000 Each To Survivors Of Yelewata Christian Massacre, Remains Silent On Unaccounted ₦1.275 Billion In Donations
The Benue State government says it has disbursed ₦56 million to 1,000 households affected by last year’s deadly attack on Yelewata community, even as questions continue to mount over the management of ₦1.275 billion in donations received for victims of the massacre.
The government stated that each of the 1,000 households received ₦50,000 as part of a cash transfer intervention.
Yelewata, a border community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, was attacked in June 2025 by suspected terrorists. The assault reportedly left over 200 people dead and displaced thousands of residents, many of whom were camped at the International Market in Makurdi.
Briefing journalists in Makurdi on Monday, the Chairman of the Technical Committee for the Implementation of Donations to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Deborah Aber, said the attack drew national attention, including a visit by President Bola Tinubu.
Aber, who also serves as Secretary to the State Government, said that following the president’s visit, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu donated ₦1 billion to support displaced persons in the state. She added that additional donations were received from the Nasarawa State Government (₦150 million), United Bank for Africa (₦100 million), and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (₦25 million), bringing the total donations to ₦1.275 billion.
According to Aber, the state governor constituted a committee to ensure transparency and accountability in the utilisation of the funds, appointing her as chair.
However, observers have raised concerns over the disparity between the ₦56 million reportedly disbursed directly to households and the ₦1.275 billion received in donations, calling for a detailed public accounting of how the balance has been spent or earmarked.
The government has yet to release a comprehensive breakdown of expenditures tied to the donations.
