From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The European Union (EU), in response to the influx of displaced people in Benue State following recent attacks, has released €500,000 (approximately NGN 886,315,000) to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs.
The Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in a statement issued in Abuja by its Public Affairs Officer, Politics, Press and Information Section, Ugo Sokari-George, said the funding will support, for a period of six months, and in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), efforts to implement activities in sectors such as protection, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), as well as multi-purpose financial aid.
The EU stated that escalating armed violence in Benue State has displaced thousands of people, exacerbating an already critical humanitarian crisis.
It added that in June 2025, a wave of attacks forced almost 23,000 people to flee, many of whom had already been displaced in the past, triggering a cycle of heightened vulnerability.
“Conditions inside the camps are dire. There is a severe lack of shelter for families, and inadequate access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Access to livelihoods remains precarious, while protection risks have increased considerably, particularly for women, children and people with disabilities, making the humanitarian response even more complex,” the EU said.
The EU further said the latest wave of violence was part of a protracted humanitarian crisis that has been shaking the state of Benue since 2018.
“More than 1.5 million people have been displaced from their homes since 2018. The escalation of violence in 2024 and 2025 has already claimed some 6,900 lives and displaced more than 400,000 people, stressing the urgency of the situation,” the EU added.
