Benue Chef Assaulted at Makurdi IDP Camp While Preparing Meals for Yelewata Victims

Chef Naira Victor, popularly known for his Guinness World Record attempt titled ‘Cook-a-thon’, was reportedly attacked on Saturday morning by suspected political thugs at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp situated within Makurdi International Market, Benue State.

This camp is currently home to displaced residents affected by the Yelewata killings and is operated by the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). Chef Victor explained that he was invited by the Federal lawmaker representing the Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency to cook for the displaced individuals for a full week, a humanitarian effort he had already commenced prior to the assault.

According to his account, while he was busy preparing meals for the displaced families, a group of thugs reportedly stormed the site. He claimed these individuals were allegedly acting under the instruction of a serving commissioner in the Benue State Government.

The assailants allegedly physically assaulted and harassed Chef Victor, demanding that he immediately stop cooking and exit the premises. Their reason? The state government had already appointed another chef to oversee the feeding of the camp’s residents.

In his reaction following the incident, Chef Victor said the attack had clear political undertones, stressing that the core issue was not about his service but about the individual backing him.

“I was not attacked because of the meals I was preparing,” he stated, “but because the person who sent me does not have a good relationship with the Governor.”