A high-powered delegation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United States Congress has visited Benue State to express sympathy over the recent spate of killings in Yelewata and other parts of the state.
According to a report by Daily Post on Thursday, July 3, 2025, the delegation, led by Jessie Ainslie of UNHCR, paid a courtesy visit to the Benue State Government House in Makurdi, where they conveyed their condolences and pledged continued international attention to the crisis.
“Our hearts go out to you,” Ainslie said, noting that the developments in Benue are being closely monitored in Washington, D.C.
“Reports of the attacks have reached the US capital, and I can confirm that Americans are closely following the situation here in Benue.”
The delegation includes eight US congressional staffers on a fact-finding mission aimed at assessing the humanitarian situation in Nigeria and evaluating the impact of US aid.
Prior to their stop in Benue, the team had visited Borno State and is expected to return to Abuja after concluding their engagements.
Deputy Governor Sam Ode, who received the visitors on behalf of Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia, welcomed the team and commended their efforts to understand the crisis firsthand. He especially appreciated their stop at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp located at the Makurdi International Market.
“This visit demonstrates genuine concern and international solidarity with our people,” Ode said, adding that the Benue State Government remains committed to transparency in humanitarian efforts and to working with global development partners.
Clarifying the root of the state’s conflict, Ode emphasized that the crisis is not religious in nature but rather stems from land-use conflicts between farmers and herders.
He cited increasing land scarcity and outdated open grazing practices as contributing factors, reaffirming the state’s position on ranching as the only sustainable solution aligned with international standards.
“The President has issued clear instructions to security agencies to deal decisively with criminal elements, no matter their affiliations. We stand fully behind the federal government and our security services in the effort to restore peace,” he said.
Ainslie commended the Benue State Government for its commitment to helping displaced persons, highlighting the donation of agricultural land to support their resettlement and livelihoods.
“This is a powerful example of how displaced communities can contribute economically and progress towards recovery,” she noted.
The delegation is also scheduled to visit Tartyo in Guma Local Government Area, where they will engage with local communities involved in peacebuilding efforts.
The goal, according to the delegation, is to encourage the safe and dignified return of displaced persons to their ancestral homes.
