Benue: Relocated 847 households IDPs beg for improved shelter

At least 847 households of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) currently habiting a square space along Uniagric road in Makurdi have appealed to both Federal and Benue State Governments to provide them with better shelters.

Our correspondent reports that the IDPs who were discovered on Tuesday in their palmfrond makeshift shelter, claimed that they were relocated to the new place by the chairman of Makurdi local government council.

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Some of the inhabitants of the rather pitiable hundreds of tents pitched in the available space said they were displaced from different villages in Guma and Makurdi LGAs respectively since 2018 by gunmen who destroyed their homes.

Chairman of the camp, John Azenda, explained that, “we were displaced in 2018 and we have been staying along the 72 Battalion Barracks when in December, the Makurdi local government chairman came and told us to vacate the place.

“When we asked where he is taking us to, he showed us this place that he wanted to use that place (former camp) to establish a market.

“I am from Uvigh council ward, in Gina Local Government Area. Since that January 1st, 2018 attack, we have not gone back home. In fact, in my compound as I speak, nobody is there. We have been here (new place) since December10, 2020.

“We are about 847 households. Since we came, we have not received relief material from SEMA but a SEMA staff came and visited us in December and went back, we have not discussed anything yet.

“During Christmas, SEMA themselves didn’t give us anything but different groups and people have come to give us a few items,” he narrated.

Adzenda however added that they (847 households including over 1000 children) needed better shelters, toilets, water and other necessary sanitation as well as health needs.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Emmanuel Shior, told newsmen in Makurdi that the state government was working in collaboration with ActionAid and Doctors Without Borders among others to provide shelter, water and sanitation needs for the relocated displaced persons.