Ortom Laments Influx of Refugees from Cameroon to Benue

George Okoh in Makurdi

Benue State Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom has decried the rising number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the high influx of refugees from Cameroon to his state.

According to him, Benue is now an endangered state.

He maintained that it was not an easy task for the state to manage the refugees and IDPs and urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to intervene to cushion the burden.

Ortom stated this yesterday when he received an Inter-Agency Technical Committee delegation from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development that who paid him a courtesy call at Makurdi.

He said, “We remain an endangered state as far as issues of refugees and IDPs are concerned in our country Nigeria” saying that since 2017, “the state has continued to witness influx of IDPs in the various official and unofficial established camps.”

According to the governor, “On record, we have over two million IDPs in Benue State that have been profiled,” noting that the state currently hosts over 10,000 Cameroonian refugees who are taking refuge in Benue as a result of the crises in southern Cameroon.

Ortom said “We have taken it as a responsibility of the government to provide minimum comfort for the Cameroonian refugees,” adding that the state government has continued to prevail on the host communities to allow the refugees to settle down.

The governor further disclosed that over 134,000 persons had been displaced from their homes as a result of the recent flooding that caused havoc in some parts of the state, saying due to early sensitisation, there were less casualties.

While appreciating the support of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development in the past, Ortom urged the committee to carry out their assessment of the humanitarian situation on ground with diligence.

Ortom also charged the Committee to adequately report to the Ministry the situation on ground, so that help could be provided to the state, adding that the State Government would continue to do its best in handling the challenges to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.

He mandated the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Dr. Emmanuel Shior to furnish the Interagency Committee with detailed information on the prevailing challenges.

Earlier, Leader of the ministerial team, Mr. Murdakai Titus of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs (NCFRMI) who spoke on behalf of the Committee, appreciated the governor for the cooperation he accorded the team and acknowledged the kind disposition of the governor in receiving the asylum seekers/refugees in the state as well as his commitment in providing enabling environment for their wellbeing and protection.

“The federal government of Nigeria is mindful of challenges and tensions always associated with hosting asylum seekers and refugees globally especially in the immediate host communities and Nigeria’s experience is not different particularly in Benue state.

“It is to this end that this multi-sectoral team is on this mission to your state to carry out needs assessment of the possible humanitarian situations caused by the influx of refugees from Cameroon into Nigeria through the national border corridors, including Benue State,” he said.