BY JULIET EKWENUGO
Makurdi
The Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (Northern CAN) has extended humanitarian support to no fewer than 1,000 vulnerable families in Makurdi, Benue State capital, as part of efforts to cushion the impact of insecurity and communal violence in the state.
The intervention, carried out on Wednesday, targeted families displaced by violent attacks across Benue, with major beneficiaries drawn from Yelwata and other conflict-affected communities where residents have endured loss of lives, livelihoods and prolonged humanitarian hardship.
The outreach was led by the Chairman of Northern CAN, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, alongside the Vice Chairman, Rev. Dr. Jona Samson, Director of Legal, Barr. Dr. Grace Kaka, and other officials, in collaboration with the United Kingdom-based Barnabas Aid Foundation.
Relief materials distributed included bags of rice, beans, maize and garri, as well as palm oil, groundnut oil, sugar and seasonings, aimed at meeting the immediate food needs of affected households.
Speaking during the exercise, Rev. Hayab said the initiative was designed to provide urgent support to communities devastated by violent attacks, noting that families directly affected by killings, displacement and destruction of property were deliberately prioritised.
He described the outreach as a demonstration of solidarity and compassion, stressing that beyond advocacy, the church must stand with victims through practical support that restores hope and dignity.
According to him, the Makurdi outreach is part of a wider humanitarian programme being implemented by Northern CAN across several northern states, including Kaduna, Plateau, Borno and Benue, with more vulnerable communities expected to benefit in the coming days.
Rev. Hayab reiterated that no Nigerian should lose their life because of their faith, adding that the church would continue to speak out against violence while offering tangible support to victims of insecurity.
On his part, the Deputy Chairman of CAN in Benue State, Rev. Jonathan Ugbede, described the outreach as historic, expressing gratitude to the leadership of Northern CAN and the Barnabas Aid Foundation for what he called an unprecedented show of concern for victims in the state.
He noted that Benue had suffered persistent insecurity for over 15 years, with repeated attacks in communities across Agatu, Kwande, Gwer West and other local government areas, lamenting that affected communities had rarely received humanitarian support of such scale.
Rev. Ugbede said the halls used for the outreach were filled with relief materials brought by Northern CAN and its partners, a development he said would bring relief and encouragement to many displaced families.
He added that the intervention would help cushion the effects of displacement and food scarcity, while offering prayers for continued strength and provision for the leadership of Northern CAN and its partners.
Also speaking, Pastor Thomas Okwe Ahutu of Good News Baptist Church, Yelwata, recounted how attacks on the community had disrupted daily life, forcing residents to live in constant fear.
He said many families could no longer farm, travel freely, worship without anxiety or use electricity at night due to lingering security threats, adding that several churches in the area had been affected.
According to him, food scarcity had forced many households to reduce their meals drastically, with some families now eating only once a day, noting that the relief materials would significantly ease their suffering.
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 intervention as timely and comforting.
She said her family had struggled since the incident, which claimed the life of her husband, adding that the support had brought renewed hope after months of hardship.
Northern CAN reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining humanitarian and advocacy efforts across northern Nigeria, disclosing that plans are underway to expand education, healthcare and livelihood support programmes in 2026.
