The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Foundation has extended humanitarian support to victims of violent attacks in Yelewata, Benue State, and to patients at the Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital in Abuja.

Led by its chairman, Owan David, the Foundation donated relief items to displaced residents of Yelewata community in Guma Local Council of Benue State, who were victims of a deadly assault by unidentified gunmen.

The attack, which occurred on the night of June 13, 2025, claimed about 200 lives, left several others wounded and forced many from their homes. The relief package included mattresses, tubers of yam, bags of rice and beans, bars of soap, cartons of tomato paste, noodles, gallons of groundnut oil, pampers, sanitary pads, cartons of Milo, mats, pillows, and mosquito nets, among other essential items.

Owan said the visit was aimed at showing solidarity with the victims. “We have to do something to bring succour to the people of the Yelewata community. We wanted to see what had happened after the attack. The attack is quite touching for us at the PENGASSAN Foundation. We have brought succour to the community. You can see the items here. We are not here to solve their problems but to provide support to make the people of Yelewata feel better,” he stated.

The Foundation chairman toured the affected areas and said the extent of damage underscored the suffering of residents. Coordinator of the Yelewata Internally Displaced Camp, Ukuma Jonathan, expressed appreciation for the gesture, describing the situation as “very dehumanising”. He said: “As you can see, these are the remnants of the attack and it has made it uninhabitable for our people. We pray that a situation like this never happens again. Our people sleep under trees and fear further attacks. We are calling for the provision of security for our people.”

The Village Head of Yelewata, Julius Joor, also thanked the Foundation, assuring that the donated materials would be fairly distributed. He, however, lamented that residents were still too afraid to return to their farms as suspected herdsmen continued to graze on their lands.

In Abuja, the PENGASSAN Foundation team visited the Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital, where it intervened in the case of Josephine John, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member who sustained a spinal cord injury during her service year in 2024.

Josephine, who has been bedridden for nearly a year, said she had received no support from the NYSC headquarters despite repeated appeals. “My mates passed out almost a year ago, but I am still here, unable to walk or pay for the urgent medical procedures I need,” she lamented.

Owan described her condition as “pathetic”, noting: “The youth corps member has a spinal cord issue. She has been in the hospital for about one year. Her mates passed out last November. The ailment started during her service year but unfortunately, she is yet to get any form of assistance from the NYSC headquarters.”

The Foundation paid N450,000 towards her tests and surgery, and Owan called on the NYSC and well-meaning Nigerians to assist her further. “She still has a balance to pay. PENGASSAN hereby call on other foundations and the youth service management to come to the aid of this young woman,” he said.

In addition to supporting Josephine, the Foundation also cleared the medical bills of 12 other patients who could not afford their treatment. Another patient with a tumour received N500,000 from the Foundation to settle his outstanding bill. Owan said the interventions formed part of PENGASSAN Foundation’s commitment to alleviating suffering and supporting communities in distress.