Benue and Plateau States Reel Under Displacement Crisis as Over 3 Million Nigerians Flee Violence

Benue and Plateau States Reel Under Displacement Crisis as Over 3 Million Nigerians Flee Violence

A deepening humanitarian emergency has gripped Benue and Plateau States, where over three million Nigerians have been forced from their homes amid relentless violence and insecurity.

This staggering figure was revealed by Dr. Yusuf Sununu, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday.

According to Dr. Sununu, the federal government is scaling up efforts to deliver essential relief materials and support to internally displaced persons (IDPs). He also appealed for stronger collaboration from international agencies and non-governmental organizations to address the crisis comprehensively.

The displacement is largely attributed to a surge in brutal attacks by unknown armed groups. These violent raids—often carried out under the cover of darkness—have devastated rural communities, leaving homes in ruins, farmlands scorched, and families shattered. Casualties continue to rise as people flee for safety with little more than the clothes on their backs.

The wave of attacks has reignited anxiety over the persistent insecurity plaguing the Middle Belt region, where historic tensions between farming and pastoralist communities remain unresolved.

With humanitarian needs mounting and thousands in urgent need of shelter, food, and protection, the spotlight now falls on how swiftly both local and international actors can respond to one of Nigeria’s most pressing internal crises.