UN Secretary General Visits Benue, Condemns Incessant killings, attacks in Communities

From Attah Ede Makurdi 

The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, has condemned in totality the incessant attacks and killings in Nigeria, particularly in Benue State.

He noted that the incident has continued to cause wider pressures felt in very immediate ways, shaping the context in which communities are pursuing peace, recovery and resilience, progress, priorities and potentials. 

 Mohammed made the remarks when she visited Yelewata and Mega camp Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) in Mbayongo in Guma LGA of the State.

She particularly expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the recent attacks in Benue State, including in Mbalom, in Gwer East Local Government Area, and in Yelwata, and expressed solidarity with all affected communities, including those newly 

displaced.

She lamented that at the moment, there is profound global uncertainty, as conflict, climate shocks, economic pressures and displacement are 

converging and placing growing strain on communities around the world. 

She noted that the war in Iran is a stark reminder of how quickly conflict can escalate, with consequences that reverberate far beyond any one country or region, stating thay UN welcomes the ceasefire as an important step towards deescalation and diplomacy.

According to her, across the region, these intersecting pressures are testing resilience, deepening vulnerabilities and reinforcing the importance of inclusive development, strong institutions and social

cohesion.

The former Nigeria Minister for Environment observed that in spite of these challenging times, the direction, Benue State  Government is setting deserves recognition, noting that the state 2026 Budget of Rural Development,

Livelihood Support and Sustained Growth sends an important signal of commitment to improving lives, expanding opportunity and anchoring development where it matters most.

Said she, “the human toll of insecurity is profound. Itdisrupts lives, weakens livelihoods, erodes trust and undermines the foundations for peace and development.

“What is required is not only a security

response, but a broader commitment to

peacebuilding that starts at the grassroots—strengthening early warning and early response, rebuilding trust across communities, and creating the conditions for reconciliation to take root”.

 Amina stressed that Benue holds enormous potential as Nigeria’s food basket, which plays a critical role 

not only in feeding the country, but in

generating livelihoods, enterprise and broader prosperity.

The UN Deputy Secretary-General acknowledged the efforts being made to pursue durable solutions for displaced families—including through access to agricultural land and opportunities for self-reliance—reflect the kind of joined-up leadership this moment demands.

“This is how the Sustainable Development Goals, SDG are advanced in practice through integrated action that connects humanitarian response to long-term development, restores agency, reduces dependency and leaves no one behind.

“With sustained leadership, stronger partnerships and continued investment in livelihoods and value chains, Benue is well placed to translate its assets into more inclusive and resilient growth.

“The United Nations stands ready to support these efforts in ways that are practical, coordinated and aligned behind State priorities.Insecurity, reconciliation and peacebuilding. 

“Justice and accountability are also essential.Without them, peace remains fragile and reconciliation incomplete.

We must also be mindful of the risks that come when complex crises are reduced to narrow or simplified narratives.

“Oversimplified narratives can inflame tensions, strain the social fabric and make the work of peacebuilding and reconciliation even harder.

“This is why responsible leadership, careful language and a commitment to dialogue and social cohesion are so important at this moment.

“Benue’s launch of the BRACE-UP initiative is an important step in bringing unenrolled children into school and protecting every child’s right to education. In communities affected by conflict and displacement, this imperative becomes even greater.

“Children who have already experienced

disruption and loss must not be left further behind, and continued support will be essential to ensure their safe integration into host schools and their access to learning materials and opportunity, She emphasized.

Speaking on the significance of the visit the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, said, “it is about the partnership between the United Nations team led by the Deputy Secretary General and the state government bringing hope, sustainable development to bring change. 

So we affirm our commitment to support to the state. And we really acknowledge the leadership of the Governor of the state”.

In his remark, Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, noted that  as the food basket of the nation, the state stability is directly linked to the stability of Nigeria’s food systems and, indeed, West Africa’s broader supply chains.

According to him, Benue people also at the frontline of complex challenges; farmer–herder conflicts, climate-induced vulnerabilities, and the realities of over 500,000 internally displaced persons across our communities”.