Survivors of the brutal Yelewata attack currently taking refuge in the IDP camp located around the International Market, Makurdi, Benue state have rejected the call to return to their homes.
At least 3,000 displaced residents from the Yelewata village are currently seeking safety in the camp following the horrific killing of over 200 people in coordinated attacks on the community on June 13, 2025, by suspected armed herders.
The invasion of the temporary camp by other displaced individuals has led to traditional rulers and community stakeholders putting increasing pressure on their people to return home, according to sources who visited the camp on Sunday.
“These infiltrators have continued to feast from the humanitarian support supposed to be for survivors of the Yelewata community,” one of the survivors stated.
The 41-year-old survivor stated that because they were unsure of the community’s level of security, some of them were forced to demonstrate against their traditional ruler’s request to come home.
Tema Ager, the Benue State Emergency Management Agency’s Information Officer, said in a phone conversation on Sunday that the Yelewata community’s traditional leaders were putting increasing pressure on their people to go back to their homeland.
He added that the administration will choose when the people would return home after evaluating the circumstances.
Join Our Social Media Channels:
WhatsApp: NaijaEyes
Facebook: NaijaEyes
Twitter: NaijaEyes
Instagram: NaijaEyes
TikTok: NaijaEyes
