Benue: We are Overwhelmed with Humanitarian Crises from Herdsmen Attack

George Okoh in Makurdi

Benue State Government has said the humanitarian situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state as a result of herdsmen attacks is overwhelming, and needs urgent assistants.

The Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sir James Iorpuu, who stated this yesterday to THISDAY after the distribution of food and non-food items to IDPs, intimated that there are more displacement, especially in crisis areas of Jootar, Ayati and Afia in Ukum Local Government Area.

He said so far, there are 17 IDP camps, adding that biometrics are still ongoing to ascertain the total number of IDPs in the state.

The executive secretary said materials are also distributed to rehabilitation centre as well as Special School for the needy in Vandeikya, the state governor’s area.

Among the items distributed were 4,200 bags of 25kg of rice; 2,810 bags of 25kg beans; 2,370 bags of garri; 2,155 cartons of noodles; 324 cartons of 25kg of groundnut oil; 191 litres of palm oil, 433 cartons of maggi; 463 bags of salt; and 466 bags of sugar, adding that NEMA donated 600 pieces of wrappers to women, 200 men’s wears to 14 camps, 150 mattresses, 300 children’s wears, 200 cooking pots, and 200 blankets to the camps.