Former NBA 1st Vice President, John Aikpokpo-Martins, has commended the Nigerian Bar Association’s 3rd Vice President, Zainab Aminu Garba, for her recent visit to the Yelwata Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Makurdi, Benue State, describing it as a powerful affirmation of the NBA’s duty to the most vulnerable in society.
“I just became aware of our 3rd Vice President, amiable Zainab Aminu Garba’s visit to an IDP camp in Benue State, and I feel compelled to extend my heartfelt gratitude for her commitment,” Aikpokpo-Martins said in a public statement. “Her presence, accompanied by branch chairmen and members, demonstrates the NBA’s commitment to the welfare of the most vulnerable members of our society.”
The camp, which currently houses over 8,000 displaced persons—mostly women and children—was described as a humanitarian crisis zone, with residents living without food, clean water, medical care, or adequate shelter.
Garba, while addressing journalists during the visit, expressed horror at the appalling conditions and shared disturbing stories recounted by IDPs. “One woman narrated how she watched her mother and four children butchered and their bodies set ablaze,” she said. “Another young girl lost 16 relatives in one day. A woman told me her husband and all her male children were killed in the same brutal fashion. These are not just statistics; these are lives shattered.”
She noted that 59 women have reportedly given birth inside the camp under inhumane conditions, with no medical assistance and sleeping on the bare floor. Malnourished and unclothed children were seen crying for food, many too weak to walk.
Aikpokpo-Martins praised Garba for going beyond rhetoric to show genuine concern, noting that her actions were in line with the NBA’s mission to protect human dignity and advocate for justice and social welfare. “It further demonstrates that the Nigerian Bar Association can and is capable of intervening and interceding for the vulnerable members of society,” he said.
While Garba commended the efforts of the Benue State Government, she made it clear that the crisis has surpassed the state’s capacity. “The state is doing what it can, but the system is overwhelmed. We are calling on the Federal Government to intervene immediately,” she urged.
The NBA, she added, will continue to amplify the voices of the displaced and demand immediate humanitarian and policy action. “The law is not just a courtroom tool it’s a means to protect those society often forgets,” Garba emphasized.
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