First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu on Tuesday announced a ₦1 billion donation from the Renewed Hope Initiative to support survivors and displaced families affected by the June 2025 attack on Yelwata, a community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The First Lady made the announcement during a visit to the Benue State Government House in Makurdi, where she addressed state officials and grieving families at the New Banquet Hall.
Yelwata was the scene of one of the deadliest attacks in recent months when over 100 people were killed in a violent onslaught believed to have been carried out by unidentified gunmen. The attack, which occurred in mid-June, left hundreds displaced, with many losing homes, property, and their means of livelihood.
Addressing the gathering, Senator Tinubu said the ₦1 billion donation aligns with the RHI’s mission to improve the lives of vulnerable Nigerians, particularly families affected by violence, natural disasters, or displacement.
“On behalf of the governing council of the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI will be making a donation of ₦1 billion to help displaced families get back on their feet, return to earning a living, and have a better life,” she said.
She explained that the funds will be directed toward resettlement, rebuilding infrastructure, and providing psychosocial support for families whose lives have been upended by the attack. She added that the initiative’s core motto, ‘Towards a Better Life for Families’, reflects a long-term vision for empowering victims of tragedy to recover with dignity.
Senator Tinubu, visibly emotional, expressed deep sorrow over the horrific loss of lives. “As a mother, it is heartbreaking to believe that people simply trying to live in peace would wake up to such devastation,” she said.
She noted that these are “very challenging times” for Nigeria and called on citizens and leaders to stand together in solidarity. “Our job is to play complementary and supportive roles where possible,” she added, encouraging faith, unity, and resilience.
In attendance during the visit were the First Lady of Nasarawa State, representatives from the Benue State Government, humanitarian organizations, and families of victims. The gathering observed a moment of silence in memory of the lives lost.
ALSO READ: First Lady urges support for refugees, IDPs
The RHI, launched by Senator Tinubu shortly after her husband assumed office as President in 2023, has since embarked on multiple initiatives across the country aimed at poverty reduction, maternal and child health, education, and disaster relief.
This latest intervention is considered one of the largest single donations made by the initiative in response to internal conflict-related displacement.
A senior official of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, who was present at the event, expressed appreciation to the First Lady and called for more federal attention to the rising insecurity in the North Central region.
“This gesture by the First Lady is not just a donation—it is a statement that Benue people are not forgotten,” the official said. “It gives hope to victims who have lost nearly everything.”
Yelwata and its surrounding areas have witnessed repeated bouts of violence attributed to clashes between armed herders and local communities. Insecurity in Benue, often described as the “food basket of the nation,” has also contributed to worsening food insecurity in Nigeria.
While the government continues to promise improved security architecture, critics have repeatedly called for better coordination between state and federal agencies in tackling root causes of violence.
Senator Tinubu also reassured the victims that their voices had been heard and that the Federal Government would continue to work with the Benue State Government to restore peace and stability.
“Hope is not lost,” she said. “With God’s help, and the will of the people, we will overcome.”
Punch Newspaper
