Bags of grains distributed to victims of herdsmen attack in Yelwata, Guma LGA of Benue State
By CHRISTIANA LOT, Jos –
As part of efforts to bring relief and healing to communities devastated by violence, the Gideon and Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation on Saturday led a humanitarian intervention to Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, days after a massacre that left over 200 people dead and many others displaced.
The visit, led by Revd Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam, came shortly after a night-time assault by suspected armed herdsmen on the community. Survivors and local leaders described the attack as one of the most brutal in recent memory, with entire families wiped out, homes torched, and dozens left with life-threatening injuries.
Standing at the Market Square — identified by residents as the epicenter of the killings — Revd Para-Mallam, visibly shaken, described the scene as a “parade ground of death,” recounting chilling testimonies of the night’s horror.
“It’s a massacre,” he said. “Silent killings, done through fire and machetes — right under the nose of security operatives, especially a military outpost, who reportedly did nothing. What kind of country allows such evil to thrive?”
During the visit, the Foundation donated 50 bags of 50kg rice, five large bags of beans, clothing, and a cash donation of ₦1 million to support displaced families now taking refuge in makeshift shelters. Para-Mallam also joined in the burial of one of the victims who succumbed to injuries sustained during the attack.
“We will not be silent. We will demand accountability. Forgiveness is not weakness — it is strength — but justice must be served,” he stated.
Dr. Para-Mallam stressed that while the humanitarian assistance was necessary, it could never compensate for the scale of destruction and trauma inflicted on the community.
“These killings must stop,” he declared. “We commend President Bola Tinubu for physically coming to Benue. But let this not be a one-off. We want to see him visit other affected places like Plateau, Katsina, Zamfara, and Maiduguri. Let him listen to survivors and respond with action. Enough of the excuses. The DSS must speak, the military must act. This is the moment for real leadership.”
Residents welcomed the intervention with emotion and gratitude, many saying it was the first tangible support they had received since the tragedy. Survivors who spoke during the visit described how they narrowly escaped death, many losing wives, children, relatives, and entire livelihoods in a single night.
The Revd Dr. Para-Mallam reaffirmed the Foundation’s mission of peacebuilding, saying that Nigeria’s survival depended on efforts to end mass killings and uphold human dignity.
“This is not just a humanitarian trip,” he added. “This is about calling the nation’s conscience to attention. We cannot normalize mass murder. We must rise and speak, not just with words, but with compassion and action.”
