Nigeria: “Tragedy Unfolds as Armed Herders Claim Lives of 10 IDPs in Benue Camps Amidst Security Concerns”
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
In a tragic development, the camp commandant, Felix Banke, revealed that at least 10 internally displaced persons have lost their lives in camps 1 and 2 in Gbanjimba, Benue State. This distressing information was shared during a visit by the United States Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance to the camp. The camp commandant disclosed that armed herders invaded the camps at different times, resulting in the loss of lives. Despite facing such security challenges, the camp is also grappling with health issues, particularly diarrhea, due to a lack of potable water supply.
During the visit, the USBHA team, led by the acting Executive Secretary of the State Emergency and Management Agency, James Iorpuu, assessed six IDP camps in Makurdi and Guma LGs, namely Ichuwa, Bakkaa, Ukpaan, Otese, Daudu, and Gbanjimba. The camp commandant emphasized that the major challenge faced by the camp is the absence of a reliable water supply.
Notably, the camp commandant expressed the ongoing fear among the displaced people, with herders openly grazing behind camp 2. He also highlighted the customary procedures in the camp, where camp leaders collaborate with district heads and host community leaders in the event of a death.
James Iorpuu, in his remarks, assured that the governor’s administration is working with the Federal Government and the international community to ensure the safety and swift return of displaced people to their ancestral homes.
This situation underscores the critical need for increased security measures and humanitarian support in addressing the challenges faced by internally displaced persons in the region.
