The European Union ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, on Tuesday, visited victims of the Yelewata attacks and pledged more support for them.

Mr Mignot, who visited them at their temporary camp, International Market in Makurdi, was accompanied by Cristian Munduate, a UNICEF representative in Nigeria.

Mr Mignot said their visit became necessary due to the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis caused by the June 13 attack.

The envoy stated that they were in Benue to offer their support, sympathy, and solidarity to the Benue government and the victims.

“It is necessary for us to meet the victims, express our support, sympathy and solidarity to them and listen to their testimonies. We will meet with the state authorities and see how we can contribute to peacebuilding here in Benue.

“At EU, we know that peace is only lasting when it is built on dialogue and mutual understanding between communities. We will try to bring our modest contributions to the state,” he said.

Mr Mignot further disclosed that they would be launching a social protection programme in the state on Wednesday, June 25.

Ms Munduate pledged to support the Yelewata community in rebuilding their primary healthcare facilities, schools and water supply. The representative said from their interactions with the victims, it was clear that they want to return to their homes to continue working on their farms.

“The community people want to return to their homes; they want to move ahead. They want to work on their farms and land. They want their children to be in school, and this is very commendable.

“Because the easy way would be for them to stay in camp, and maybe their lives would be easy, but no, they want to go; they want to continue working, and this speaks highly about them.

“As for UNICEF, we will try to see the situation, all these destructions in the community, how we can support primary healthcare facilities, the condition of schools and their source of water,” she said.

The secretary to the state government, Deborah Aber, commended the EU and UNICEF for all their support since the beginning of humanitarian crises in the state.

Ms Aber said the victims had indicated their interest in returning to their homes, and the government would support them through this process.

“The government will do all that it takes to ensure that they can return and return safely to their ancestral homes to continue with their farms.

“It really pains me that at the peak of the farming season, when they have crops on their farms, they are displaced. They are also receiving psychological support at the camps, which is very important.

“You can imagine a woman losing all family members, and so they are getting that here, and to an extent, it is good for them,” she said.

(NAN)