American Missionary, Alex Babir Fearlessly Narrates Sh0cking Encounter With Benue Govt
American Missionary, Alex Babir Fearlessly Narrates Shöcking Encounter With Benue Govt
American missionary, Alex Babir has confronted the government of Benue state, accusing the state’s government officials of corruption, insincerity, and obstruction him from rebuilding necessary infrastructure in the Yelewata community.
Recall that in June 2025, the Yelewata community in Benue state was invaded by suspected Fulani Jihadists who destroyed several homes, kîllled and displaced many including children and women.
Alex Babir who has been in Nigeria for more over three months on a evangelical mission, has committed to rebuilding desolated homes and public infrastructure in the terrör ravaged Yelewata village. Reports say Alex Babir has built over 35 homes for people whose homes destroyed through viólent attacks on the community by suspected Jihadists.
Hence, Alex Babir publicly called out the government of Benue state headed by a former Catholic priest, Reverend Hyacinth Alia for frustrating his efforts to rebuild major infrastructure in the Yelewata community.
He stated that he was confronted by government officials who ordered him to suspend the rebuilding of the Yelewata market, citing that the government of Benue already has a design and which it wants to build in place of the one destroyed. Alex Babir explained that when he inquired about the design, the Benue state government official told him that they will get back to him but never did.
He was later informed by the unnamed government officials that the rebuilding of the market by the state government would require 300 million naira. Alarmed by the update, Alex Babir questioned what type of market does the state government want to build in Yelewata community that would require 300 million. According to him, he had budgeted 50 million naira for the rebuilding of the market which he considers appropriate. He accuses the Benue state government of insincerity and deliberately trying to frustrate his genuine commitment to alleviating the suffering of the Yelewata people.
“I had to go to the humanitarian commissioner and I let them know of my desire here, what I’m supposed to do. And I was directed that I’m not allowed to build the market. They said that the government has plans to build the market. And they said, we’ll send you the plan tomorrow, maybe two days. And I waited over two weeks, no response. And I’m pressuring, I’m asking, so what is happening? When are we going to build the market? You said you would send me the plan, I have no plan. And they sent me a video of a 300 million plan for a market in Yelwata. While they told me I can’t build, I would spend maybe 50 or 60 million to rebuild everything. And they would consider a 300 million market here in Yelwata. I said, what market in any village or town is there that is worth 300 million in Nigeria? Not one. Zero. Even in cities. Which city has 300 million market?”
He thereafter accused government officials of mismanaging and diverting donations towards the rebuilding and resettling the displaced persons in Yelewata.
“People are suffering in Nigeria. And funds are supposed to be reaching those people to help them, to rebuild, to give food, to give aid, to do all these things. And the money that’s meant for them is not making it to them. And so there needs to be purity within funds and within the government to do things in faith to do things openly, to have accountability for what is being spent”, he stated.
