‘18,000 People Displaced in a Month in Benue’

George Okoh in Makurdi

Benue State Government has disclosed that  it recorded over 18,000 displacements in one month as a result of increased herders attacks.

The Executive Secretary State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Emmanuel Shior, made this known  while speaking with journalists in Makurdi  yesterday  during the distribution of relief materials to internally displaced persons in the State.

According to him, over 60 persons have been killed in attacks on Omugidi, Otukpo and Apa local government areas.

He added that in Otukpo, there are 8,000 IDPs who are camped in Adoka while 10,000 others are in Apa taking refuge in Ugbokpo, the local government headquarter.

“Benue has continued to be under siege for a long time. Recent killings in Benue State has added burden of taking care of the IDPs.

“We continue to appeal to federal government  through National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA), the National Commission for Refugee, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMIP) and other partners who are already here assisting us to come to our aid as our humanitarian crisis has not lessened. They should do more to increase their support.” 

“The FG should do more to support the State to put in place plans to return the IDPs as they are tired of staying in camps and in the host communities for over five years. Spirited individuals should also help us,” Shior passionately appealed.

Some of the items distributed include:3,500 bags of rice, 800 bags of beans (100kg),10,000 carton of indomie,1,800 bags of garri 600 bags of salt 600 cartons of Maggie and 10,000 tubers of yams.