An American missionary, Alex Barbir, has accused the Benue State Government of obstructing his efforts to rebuild Yelwata village, which was attacked by bandits, leaving over 200 people dead. Barbir claims that when he attempted to construct a market for the village, the government rejected his proposal and instead sent a ₦300 million market blueprint, which he believes can be completed for ₦60 million.
Barbir alleges that certain individuals are exploiting the suffering of Benue indigenes for personal gain. He has warned that if Yelwata is attacked again, the Nigerian government will be held responsible. The US government has expressed concern over the situation, with Congressman Riley Moore describing his trip to Nigeria as “heartbreaking” after meeting victims of violent attacks.
The Benue State Government has unveiled a resettlement project for Yelwata, with a ₦1.275 billion funding commitment. However, critics argue that the government’s response has been inadequate, and that more needs to be done to address the humanitarian crisis.
