Benue govt spends over N160m on snake bites in IDPs

…We are facing acute hungers- IDPs leader cries out.

 From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

The Benue State government has spent over  ₦160 million on snakes bites between March and September, including medical treatment and hospital expenses for displaced persons in the State. 

The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), James Iorpuu, disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Makurdi at the weekend.

He identified inadequate funding, shortages of medical personnel and limited transportation as major challenges affecting service delivery at various camps.

The SEMA boss disclosed that the  Agency had trained 248 community reporters to provide real-time information on security incidents and protection concerns in IDP camps and host communities. 

According to him, the agency had continues to support internally displaced persons (IDPs) through food distribution, healthcare, education, protection services and resettlement initiatives despite financial and logistical challenges.

He maintained that SEMA had sustained its monthly food distribution to IDPs, although available supplies had reduced significantly, saying that in September 2026,

they made available, no fewer than 2,000 bags of rice available for distribution instead of her usual over 3500 bags of rice monthly distribution.

On the reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence, he those cases  were being referred to the police, adding that he would provide further details of documented cases after reviewing the agency’s records and announced that no fewer than 163 displaced children were enrolled in schools through an education-related intervention, with SEMA providing mobilization and transportation support.

He also disclosed that the agency had relocated IDPs from school buildings in Naka to a designated settlement area to improve their living conditions and reduce pressure on educational facilities.

Regarding resettlement, Iorpuu said SEMA was working with humanitarian partners, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to provide settlement facilities and healthcare infrastructure. 

He said approximately 110 displaced persons had been moved to an area identified as Akile, where they were expected to receive shelter and engage in farming to rebuild their livelihoods.

He further mentioned approximately 288 hectares of land reportedly provided by the state governor for resettlement purposes. 

He said the initiatives were intended to decongest IDP camps, promote self-reliance and facilitate the eventual return of displaced persons to their ancestral communities when security conditions permitted.

The SEMA chief also disclosed that the agency had provided four motorcycles to the police in a security-challenged area to improve operational mobility. 

He cited a recent attack in which 14 people, including six police officers, were reportedly killed, although the details require independent verification.

On complaints about inadequate food, shortages of basic necessities and difficulties accessing healthcare, Iorpuu acknowledged that available resources were insufficient to meet all the needs of displaced persons. 

However, he maintained that SEMA’s interventions extended beyond food distribution to include healthcare, education, security monitoring, protection and livelihood support.

He disputed claims that a planned protest by IDPs was motivated by food shortages, alleging instead that some individuals had encouraged the demonstration over restrictions on visits to the camps.

Meanwhile, a leader at one of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Benue has described the challenges facing displaced residents as severe and multifaceted, citing irregular food distribution, lack of livelihoods, unsafe homes, inadequate shelter, poor sanitation, healthcare gaps and limited humanitarian support.

The camp leader who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said IDPs were largely unable to farm or engage in regular employment because of displacement and therefore depended heavily on government assistance, humanitarian organisations and donations from individuals.

According to him, food distribution at the camp had become irregular despite earlier expectations that relief materials would be provided monthly.

He said there had been periods of more than five months without food distribution, leaving many residents struggling with hunger, saying during the year, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had carried out only limited distributions at the camp. 

He explained that camp leaders eventually approached SEMA after growing concerns over the prolonged absence of food assistance.

“We camp leaders were summoned for discussions after concerns emerged that displaced persons in Makurdi and Guma were considering a protest over the situation. Following the engagement, another food distribution was eventually carried out insufficiently compared with the needs of the population.

“The irregularity of food assistance remained a major concern for the camp residents. Now, safe return to our ancestral communities is our major concern of the displaced persons.

“Many IDPs wanted to leave the camp and return home, but could not do so because their homes and communities were still considered unsafe. Some displaced persons whose communities had experienced a reduction in hostilities had already begun returning periodically to undertake economic activities and support their families.

“We want to suggest that, where security conditions permit, government and humanitarian agencies should support us to rebuild our houses and livelihoods, to enable us  to return home rather than remain dependent on assistance in the camp”, he said.

The camp leader also highlighted the absence of sustainable empowerment opportunities.

He said some NGOs had conducted skills-acquisition programmes for residents, but training alone had not been enough because beneficiaries often lacked the equipment, capital or other support needed to put their acquired skills into practice.

He said providing post-training support would enable beneficiaries to establish small businesses, work independently and reduce their dependence on humanitarian assistance.

He therefore appealed for empowerment programmes that combine training with practical economic support.