The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has revealed that at least 6,527 persons have been displaced following a fresh wave of deadly attacks across communities in Benue State.
In a statement released on Monday via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the agency said the situation has created a dire humanitarian crisis, with thousands of women, children, and the elderly in urgent need of aid.
“As of last night, displacement figures stood at 1,069 households, comprising 6,527 individuals,” the statement read.
According to NEMA, the breakdown of displaced persons includes 1,768 females, 759 males, 657 children under 18, 1,870 adults above 18, 252 lactating mothers, 82 pregnant women, and 91 elderly persons.
The agency noted that emergency relief efforts are underway but warned that the scale of the crisis is rapidly growing.
“Urgent humanitarian support is being mobilised and delivered to alleviate the hardship of the displaced persons,” NEMA said.
The agency further stated that casualty figures from the most recent attack in Yelewata community, Guma Local Government Area, remain unclear due to restricted access and volatile security conditions.
“Ongoing rescue and recovery operations are expected to provide more accurate figures,” it said.
NEMA attributed the displacement to “multiple coordinated attacks by unidentified gunmen” across different parts of the state, with the most recent occurring in the early hours of Saturday.
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The report follows widespread outrage over the killings, which have become increasingly frequent in Benue in recent months.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, during an interview on Channels Television earlier on Monday, said that foreign terrorists—not just herders—are now responsible for the attacks.
Alia disclosed that the attackers are heavily armed, often move without cattle, and do not speak any Nigerian language, raising suspicions of foreign involvement.
He also acknowledged the presence of collaborators within the state who may be aiding the assailants.
Despite the crisis, the governor said the Federal Government has been providing support through the deployment of security agencies, which has helped reduce the number of affected local governments from 17 to 3.
NEMA has called on local and international partners to assist in responding to the growing needs of displaced residents, especially vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children.
“This is a humanitarian emergency. The displaced are in urgent need of food, water, shelter, and medical supplies,” the agency warned.
As the crisis continues to unfold, pressure is mounting on both federal and state authorities to act decisively to end the bloodshed and provide lasting solutions for displaced communities.