Writing By Teddy Daniel; Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
The Northern Christian Association of Nigeria CAN has carried out a humanitarian outreach in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, distributing relief materials to no fewer than 1,000 vulnerable families affected by insecurity and communal violence across the state.
Major beneficiaries of the intervention were victims of the Yelwata attack and other conflict-affected communities who have suffered displacement, loss of livelihoods, and prolonged humanitarian hardship.
The outreach was led by the Chairman of Northern CAN, Reverend Joseph John Hayab, alongside the Vice Chairman, Reverend Doctor Jona Samson, Director of Legal, Barrister Doctor Grace Kaka, and other officials, in collaboration with the United Kingdom-based Barnabas Aid Foundation.
Items distributed included bags of rice, beans, maize, and garri, as well as palm and groundnut oil, sugar, and seasonings, to address the immediate food needs of affected households.
Speaking during the exercise, Reverend Hayab said the intervention was designed to provide urgent support to communities devastated by violent attacks, with special attention to victims of the Yelwata incident.
He explained that Northern CAN prioritised families affected by killings, displacement, and destruction of property as a show of solidarity, compassion, and hope.
According to him, the Makurdi outreach is part of a wider humanitarian programme covering Kaduna, Plateau, Borno, and Benue states, with more vulnerable communities expected to benefit in the coming days. Reverend Hayab stressed that no Nigerian should lose their life because of their faith, assuring that the church would continue to speak against violence while supporting victims.
On his part, the Deputy Chairman of CAN in Benue State, Reverend Jonathan Ugbede, described the outreach as historic, thanking Northern CAN and the Barnabas Aid Foundation for what he called an unprecedented show of concern for victims of insecurity in the state.
Reverend Ugbede noted that Benue State has faced persistent insecurity for over fifteen years, affecting communities in Agatu, Kwande, Gwer West, and other areas, often without significant humanitarian support.
He said the intervention would help cushion the effects of displacement and food scarcity, while offering prayers for continued strength for the organisers.
Also speaking, Pastor Thomas Okwe Ahutu of Good News Baptist Church, Yelwata, said the attack on the community disrupted daily life, restricting farming, movement, worship, and access to electricity at night.
He noted that many families had been forced to reduce their meals to once daily due to food shortages.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Esther Zeko, a survivor of the Yelwata attack, expressed gratitude to Northern CAN and the Barnabas Aid Foundation, describing the support as timely and comforting.
She said her husband was killed during the attack and that the intervention had brought renewed hope after months of hardship.
Northern CAN reaffirmed its commitment to sustained humanitarian and advocacy efforts across northern Nigeria, revealing plans to expand education, healthcare, and livelihood support programmes in 2026.
