Over 200 people have been displaced in Okpokwu LGA attack – SEMA boss

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

Makurdi’s Peter Duru
The recent attack on Igama community in Okpokwu Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state by suspected armed herdsmen displaced at least 200 people.

It should be noted that the Igama community was recently attacked by suspected armed herdsmen, resulting in the deaths of approximately 16 people, the displacement of many more, and the injury of many more.

Dr. Emmanuel Shior, Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, stated this over the weekend while flagging off the monthly distribution of food and non-food items to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in official and unofficial camps across the state, expressing regret that the attack had increased the state government’s burden.

Dr. Shior urged the Federal Government and international donors to focus on the state’s massive humanitarian crisis and do everything possible to ensure the safe return of nearly two million internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their ancestral homes.

“As a responsive and accountable government, we do not intend to keep IDPs in camps indefinitely,” he said. The federal government, which is in charge of security agencies, must, however, assist the state government in accomplishing this by ensuring that the communities are safe enough for them to return.

“Because that hasn’t happened yet, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to provide food and other assistance to internally displaced people.” We’ll keep feeding them once a month. That is why we are here today, and we cannot abandon our people and allow them to starve due to the federal government’s indifference.”

The Executive Secretary stated that in the last six months, the camps had recorded close to 80 newborns and that the government was doing everything possible, in collaboration with well-meaning agencies, to ensure that the newborns were well cared for.

“We have about 70 to 80 child births between January and now,” he said.

He listed 3000 bags of 25kg rice, 1000 bags of guinea corn, 1000 bags of maize, cartons of noodles, and 1000 bags of garri and beans for distribution to IDPs.

“Our intention is to extend this month’s distribution to Okpokwu,” he says, noting that Okpokwu LGA has recently been attacked, so there are displaced people there as well. Over 200 displaced people in that community will be assisted.

“I am particularly urging the international community and the Federal Government to assist the Benue state government in caring for internally displaced people (IDPs) because the burden is too great and overwhelming.”