Hope in Ruins: Our Visit to Yelwata, Benue State
On Saturday, 21st June 2025, Team Gideon & Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, under the Touching Lives for Peace Initiative, lead by the President and CEO- The Revd Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam stood on the soil of Yelwata — a quiet town on the outskirts of Benue State and a border town with Nasarawa State which now bears the scars of brutality.
This community was ambushed in a violent raid by Armed Fulani Herdsmen. The horror was indescribable, almost unspeakable. Men were gunned down, women and children butchered, in their homes and shops while asleep in the dead of the night. Entire households lived and food barns were reduced to ashes.
What we saw was not just the aftermath of violence – we saw the raw, undiluted face of human suffering. Stench of decayed body parts and unwashed blood stains in the scenes of attacks. Walking through Yelwata, the air was thick with grief. Faces etched with trauma as ours met theirs. There were no words to cover the silence of loss. Mothers looked at the caskets of their sons. Children stared blankly at the rubble that used to be their homes. The stench of death was inescapable.
In that same brokenness, we witnessed something profound – the resilience of the human spirit and the quiet power of compassion. Team Para-Mallam came with food items, clothes and cash – yes – but more importantly, we went with hope and smiles on the survivors faces. One conversation at a time, one hug at a time, we tried to reach into the hearts of people whose world had been shattered
This is the paradox of our work: in the heart of darkness, we display light. In chaos, we offer presence. We went with open arms, ready to listen, ready to serve, ready to stand in solidarity.
As peacebuilders, we carry the weight of seeing the worst humanity has to offer – but we were also witnesses to the emotional healing streams. In the words of Dr. Para-Mallam
“Yelwata may be down, but it is not defeated. Its story is not over. The people of Yelwata will rise again!”
Communities like Yelwata remind us that the human will to survive, to rebuild, and to rise again, is stronger than any force of destruction. We urged for forgiveness. Forgiveness isn’t a weakness, it is strength for those who have a conscience that transcends religious bigotry and ethnic sentiments. Yelwata in forgiveness you will rise to greatness again. Your land will never be ceded. God gave you this land. God will help you keep your ancestral lands. No force of evil can change this fact.
Yelwata will rise again!
We believe it.
We are committed to it.
And we invite you – wherever you are – to believe and act alongside our Peace Foundation to partner with us to restore hope and harmony.
Peace to Yelwata! Peace to Benue State!! Peace to Nigeria!!!