Insecurity stalling Benue IDPs planned return

Benue State Government, on Wednesday, decried the rise in insecurity in the state, saying the trend is preventing displaced persons from returning to their ancestral homes.

The Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency and Management Agency, James Iorpuu, explained that all efforts to ensure that the displaced people return to their ancestral homes have been frustrated with continuous attacks by suspected herders.

Iorpuu stated this when he was briefing journalists while distributing food and non-food items to displaced persons in the state.

He said that the materials would be distributed to eight local government areas, comprising Kwande, Katsina-Ala, Ukum, Apa, Okpokwu, Agatu, Guma and Logo.

He said, “In Ukum, Gbajir, we have displacements in Jootar and Ayati communities. We also have displacements in Gbishe,Yooyo council wards in Katsina-Ala.

“In Kwande this week, Abande, Anwase and part of Moon witnessed second displacement. In most of these communities, the people made attempts to go back to clear lands for farming, and they were displaced again.”

The SEMA boss listed food and non-food items to be distributed to include bags of rice, beans, garri, cartons of noodles, groundnut and palm oil, maggi, and salt. Others are sugar, detergents, soap, and mattresses.

“We have tagged this distribution as Easter distribution to our brothers, fathers, and mothers. The governor instructed me to ensure that these items reach the IDPs, especially those recently displaced in Kwande, Katsina-Ala, Ukum, Apa, Okpokwu, Agatu, Guma and Logo LGA.

“Apart from going to distribute these materials to them, we are also going to assess the level of damage in these areas,” Iorpuu said.