Benue’s Humanitarian Crisis Deepens As Herdsmen Attacks Persist

Benue’s Humanitarian Crisis Deepens As Herdsmen Attacks Persist

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Benue State are grappling with overwhelming challenges as deadly herdsmen persist in their attacks on farming communities in the region…..READ ALSO EFCC Probes Humanitarian Ministry Scandal: Betta Edu In Latest Headlines On Jan. 23rd, 2024

A visit to some of the camps over the weekend revealed a dire humanitarian crisis, with IDPs expressing their desperation and decrying the lack of sustenance, with starvation looming large.

In recent days, numerous Benue communities have fallen victim to the marauding herdsmen, resulting in the displacement of thousands from their homes. The latest victims include residents of Wandor, Mbaikyor community in the Mbalom Council Ward of Gwer East Local Government Area, where over 50 houses were razed, and 17 people, including a retired army officer, were killed.

Prior to this incident, communities in Apa, Kwande, and Guma Local Government Areas of Benue State also witnessed deadly attacks, leaving scores dead and many injured.

The relentless assaults have seen herders invade numerous Benue communities with their cattle, perpetrating violence and destruction in their wake. The attacks have left communities like Ubele, Ochumekwu, Adija, Kano, and Ijaha in Apa LGA reeling from the devastation.

Confirming the attacks, Mr. Eche Akpoko, the National Chairman of Apa Development Association, expressed dismay over the unending bloodshed, revealing multiple casualties across several communities in Apa LGA.

The violence has not spared other regions, with Agatu and Otukpo Local Government Areas also witnessing deadly attacks that have claimed lives and triggered mass displacement.

Residents of Iwili community in Entekpa Ward, located in the Adoka District of Otukpo Local Government Area, were subjected to another wave of violence, with armed men launching attacks from trees, catching residents off guard.

The renewed attacks have sparked a humanitarian crisis, with displaced persons seeking refuge in temporary camps like Wesley Central School, Adoka. These displaced individuals lamented their displacement, describing their plight as refugees in their own land and bemoaning the adverse impact on their livelihoods, education, and overall well-being.

Advocate Ngbede Ofoine, the IDPs manager and youth leader of Adoka-Ole Youth Council, highlighted the dire conditions faced by the displaced population, urging government intervention and support from well-meaning individuals to alleviate their suffering.

As the displaced persons continue to endure hardship and uncertainty, they remain hopeful for a swift resolution to the conflict, allowing them to return to their homes and resume their normal lives.