Benue Laments Plight of Displaced People

George Okoh in Makurdi

The Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency, (BSEMA), Mr. Emmanuel Shior, has expressed concerns over the conditions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) following the inability of the federal government to release the funds it has promised for their care.

Shior stated this yesterday while speaking with newsmen during the distribution of food item to the IDPs in the state.

He also accused the Presidency of not doing enough for IDPs in the state.

“What we are experiencing here is a colossal humanitarian and developmental crisis as our roads, bridges, markets, churches, schools and homes have been destroyed,” he said.

The federal government had promised to intervene with a N10 billion assistant to the state, which has not been redeemed.

“All we hear in the news is the North-east. What is the population of IDPs in the North-east? What we have in Benue State on account of the ceaseless attacks on the farming communities is worse than the North-east. Is it that the APC’s government of Buhari is playing politics with the problem in the state? he queried.

Shior called on the international community, organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to assist Benue’s IDPs, adding that the state government has been spending hundreds of million of Naira to purchase food and non-food items for the IDPs, a responsibility he said has been very tasking and heavy.

He also called on leaders in Benue State to join hands with the state government to draw attention to the plague of the displaced persons for the overall good and development of the state.