Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, has visited victims of the recent violent attacks by suspected armed herdsmen in the Yelewata community, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The Minister during the visit to the community where over 200 persons were reportedly massacres, assured the affected residents of the Federal Government’s support, pledging to provide potable water and other essential services to help improve their living conditions.
According to a statement by his Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity Terhemen Oraduen, the Minister re-emphasized
the ongoing concerted efforts by the Federal Government to bring lasting peace to the community and Benue as a whole.
Professor Utsev visited the Yelwata community alongside his wife Mrs Doosuur to offer his condolences and support to the victims.
According to Minister Utsev, apart from the recent condolence visit to the state by President Bola Tinubu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume and himself recently, and the directive to security agencies to hunt down the killings immediately, all well-meaning Benue sons and Nigerians, were making conscious efforts to end the killings in the state to enable farmers return to their ancestral homes and continue with their farming activities.
“The Water Resources and Sanitation Minister who promised to tackle the water needs of the committee promised to supply fertilizer and irrigation equipment free of charge to Benue farmers to enable them to go into large-scale agriculture to end hunger and achieve food sufficiency in the country,” Oraduen said.
Minister Utsev alongside his wife, Mrs. Doosuur later visited the Benue State University Teaching Hospital where over one hundred victims of the attack are being treated and expressed shock over the magnitude of the attacks on the innocent people especially women and children during, which he gave them words of hope and donated an undisclosed amount of money for their medical bills.
The statement said, “On her part, Mrs Doosuur Utsev who consoled the victims over the unfortunate incident also donated clothes and toiletries for their upkeep.”
Earlier at Yelewata community, Reverend Father Solomon Ukeyima and the District Head of Nyiev Chief Benard Adawa expressed appreciation to Minister Utsev for identifying with the people in their moment of grief, explained that the attacks were a deliberate attempt to take over the land by herdsmen and appealed to the Federal Government to hasten the process of resettling the displaced persons to enable them to continue with their farming activities to make earns meet.
According to Oraduen, items donated by the Minister and his wife include bags of corn,garri, noodles, and clothes among others.
