First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday donated N1 billion to victims of armed invaders attack in Yelwata community of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
Our correspondent reports that over 100 people were reportedly killed in the night of June 13 and early hours of June 14, 2025 in the rural Yelwata community, prompting the First Lady’s donation to help survivors rebuild their lives.
Mrs Tinubu who made the donation during a condolence visit to the state, held at the New Banquet Hall of the Government House, Makurdi, also pledged support from the Renewed Hope Initiative to address cross-border attacks and ensure affected children return to school.
Earlier, the First Lady was received at the Tactical Air Command, Nigerian Air Force Base, Makurdi, around 10:45am by Governor Hyacinth Alia and other top government officials.
Speaking at the event, the paramount ruler of Tiv nation worldwide, Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, decried the continued attacks on Benue communities, describing them as a “genocidal war.”
Ayatse accused Nasarawa State of serving as a base for the assailants and called for urgent action.
In his remarks, Governor Alia lamented the humanitarian crisis resulting from the attacks and renewed calls for the establishment of state police to allow for quicker response to security threats.
The governor also urged the federal government to adopt ranching as a national policy to curb farmer-herder conflicts.
Responding, Mrs Tinubu promised to work with the wife of the Nasarawa State Governor to find solutions to the recurring cross-border crisis.
She announced that her Renewed Hope Initiative would support displaced children’s education and community recovery efforts.
The president’s wife later presented the N1 billion cheque to Governor Alia and state officials in a brief handover ceremony before meeting with stakeholders.
