An American missionary has accused the Benue State Government of deliberately frustrating his efforts to rebuild Yelwata village following a deadly bandit attack that destroyed homes and community infrastructure.
The missionary said he approached relevant state officials with plans to reconstruct the local market to support displaced residents and revive economic activities.
According to him, he was informed that the government had its own plans and was instructed to wait for official building designs, which were promised within days but never delivered despite weeks of follow-up.
He claimed the situation worsened when he was later shown a proposal for a market project estimated at about ₦300 million.
The missionary argued that the amount was unjustifiable, noting that similar markets in villages and even cities do not cost such sums.
He said he declined to participate, alleging misuse of funds meant for victims of violence.
Stressing the need for transparency, he warned that aid intended for suffering communities must be handled with accountability to truly reach those in need.
