Benue State Government on Tuesday disclosed that it has recorded 18,000 more Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) within the month of April due to more herders attacks.
The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency and Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Emmanuel Shior stated during the distribution of relief materials to internally displaced persons in the State.
He mentioned the affected areas with new IDPs including Otukpo and Apa local government areas.
He said that in Otukpo, there are 8,000 IDPs already camped in Adoka while 10,000 others are in Apa taking refuge in Ugbokpo, the local government headquarter.
Shior added, “Benue has continued to be under siege for a long time. Recent killings in Benue State have added the burden of taking care of the IDPs.
He, however, appealed to the Federal Government through National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Commission for Refugee, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMIP) and other partners who he said are already in the state to further support the state.
“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 5 years. Spirited individuals should also help us”, Shior appealed.
Items distributed include 3,500 bags of rice, 800 bags of beans,1,0000 cartons of indomie,1,800 bags of garri, 600 bags of salt, 600 cartons of Maggie and 1,0000 tubers of yams.
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