By Peter Duru, Makurdi 

The European Union, EU, and the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, have pledged to support the peace building process in Benue State in the wake of the armed herdsmen attack on Yelewata community on June 13. 

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot made the declaration Tuesday when he, alongside the UNICEF Country Director, Cristian Munduate visited the displaced victims of the Yelewata attack currently taking refuge at the Makurdi Ultra Modern International Market. 

Mignot explained that their visit enabled the delegation meet with the displaced women, children and men including others who suffered the Yelewata attack. 

He said “We felt that it was necessary to come and meet them and expressed our support, sympathy and solidarity and listen to their testimonies. 

“We will have meetings with the state authorities to see how we can contribute to peace building in Benue State and development support to the state policies.” 

He disclosed that the team would Wednesday launch a program on Social Protection in Benue State stressing “this is something that was already planned for some time, but it came, I think at the right moment to express our support to the State authorities, and the population of all communities that have been victims of attacks and of violence. 

“At the European Union, we know that peace is only lasting when it is built on dialogue and mutual understanding between communities. Our Union was based on the ashes of two cruel world wars between our member states. And when we came together united that was when we could thrive and prosper, and believe in peace. 

“So this is the future that we also hope for the population in Benue state, if we can bring our modest contributions, we will do this.” 

On her part, the UNICEF Country Director who condoled the people over the attack lamented the loss of lives of children in the attack noting that many other children were holed up in facilities “where they are recovering from the attack.” 

She pointed out that UNICEF had been carrying out assessments “the team is present here along with UNHCR, IOM and UN agencies who are here to support.” 

According to her, “what we heard today from the meeting we just had, is that, the people want to return to their communities. They want to move ahead, they want to still work on their farms, their land. They want their children to be at school and this is very commendable because the easy way would be that they stay in the camp. But they want to go back. They want to continue working, this speaks highly about them. So, we will come, with a joint response from the UN and, hopefully with the partnership of the European Union. 

“And as for UNICEF, because of all the destruction in the community, we will see how we can support the Primary Healthcare facility there. We will need to see the condition of the school and we will need to check the water sources to see how they are functioning. We will support for their return to their community.” 

Also, the Secretary to the State Government, SSG Mrs. Deborah Aber commended the global organisations for their several interventions in the state. 

She stated that the state government would support any initiative aimed at the quick return of the IDPs to their communities to enable them continue with their lives emphasizing that “they have indicated that they are agitated to go back to their communities and like the UNICEF representative said it shows their bravery that they are not giving up their ancestral land. What the government will do, in all its power is to ensure that they can go back to their communities.” 

The SSG noted that the position of the IDPs clearly showed that they were tired of receiving and surviving on handout “so 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 that we are at the peak of a farming season when they have crops in their farms and they are displaced.” 

Mrs. Aber who noted the importance of availing the displaced persons psychosocial support said “you can imagine a woman losing all family members. So they are getting that here and to an extent it is good for them.”