UN Pledges Dignified Return for Displaced Benue Community

The United Nations has pledged to support displaced residents of Yelewata and other conflict-affected communities in their quest to return home – not only to their ancestral lands, but with dignity.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed made the commitment on Friday during a visit to Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, which was attacked on June 13, 2025, leaving scores dead and extensive property destroyed.

Mrs Mohammed said the people of Benue and all Nigerians must be able to live and work in safe and secure environments. Her visit, she explained, was an act of solidarity with the state – particularly women and children, who suffer most during conflicts.

Describing the June 13 attack as a painful moment that must never be repeated, she called on the government to do everything possible to ensure farmers can work without fear.

“It is not right that you must farm in unsafe conditions,” she said. “Instead, we must find ways to bring farming closer to you and ensure your produce reaches markets that reflect your dignity – markets befitting the people of Yelewata and Benue.”

Mrs Mohammed noted that Benue has long been known as the nation’s food basket and expressed hope that the state would reclaim that identity.

Reflecting on past harmony, she recalled: “I remember coming here when it was Benue-Plateau before the divisions into Benue, Nasarawa, and Plateau. There were no boundaries; it was one community. Back then, even as a Fulani woman among Tiv people, we lived more closely and harmoniously than what we see today.

“We must return to that unity as Nigerians, embracing our diversity in religion and culture. Without that shared vision, we risk losing our collective future.”

The UN deputy secretary-general reiterated her commitment to amplifying the voices of the voiceless, especially women and children, across conflict zones including the Sahel, West Africa, Sudan, and Gaza.

“Let this be our tribute to those who lost their lives: that we will build a better community, a better Benue, and a better Nigeria – a country where all citizens are equal,” she said.

She warned that without peace, farming, economic growth, and the future of young people – who make up 70% of the population – remain impossible. “We must hold our politicians accountable. Peace is what we demand. That is why we vote,” she added.

Earlier, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia directed the immediate reopening of Yelewata Market for commercial activities. He acknowledged the UN and its agencies for their support of all internally displaced persons in the state and commended Mrs Mohammed for her visit, describing insecurity as a threat to national unity, particularly in Benue.