The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reported that attacks by unidentified gunmen in Benue State have displaced 6,527 people, including lactating mothers and elderly persons, triggering a humanitarian crisis.
In a social media post on June 16, 2025, NEMA detailed the latest assault on Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area, which occurred early Saturday, leaving dozens dead or injured. Casualty figures remain unclear due to ongoing security challenges, but 46 people were hospitalized, with 20 succumbing to injuries. The Benue State Police confirmed the attack, noting some assailants were neutralized during a firefight.
Rescue efforts faced setbacks, with two soldiers and one Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officer killed in an ambush in Daudu. NEMA, alongside SEMA, UNHCR, Red Cross, and IOM, is coordinating relief at a new IDP camp at Makurdi International Market, supporting 1,069 households. The displaced include 1,768 females, 759 males, 657 children, 252 lactating mothers, 82 pregnant women, and 91 elderly persons.
Urgent needs include food, water, medical supplies, and non-food items. Medical teams have requested blood donations to aid critical care. NEMA stated that humanitarian support is being mobilized to ease the plight of those affected, as rescue and recovery operations continue to provide clearer casualty data.
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