Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State yesterday took to the streets of Makurdi to protest starvation in the camp.
The displaced people who were conveyed to Makurdi on Saturday night after the attacks on their community between Friday night and Saturday morning accused state government officials of hoarding and diverting relief materials donated by individuals and humanitarian organisations.
The IDPs blocked major entrances leading into the International Market, Makurdi which serves as their temporary camp on George Akume Way to express their grievances.
Recall that after the massacre of over 100 people in the Yelewata community, those who fled their homes were transported by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to take shelter in Makurdi.
They said the protest, coming barely four days after their stay in camp, was an attempt to draw attention to the severe hunger, lack of medical care, and inhumane treatment they have suffered since arriving at the camp.
One of the IDPs, Fidelis Igban, told journalists that, “We have lost three people already due to hunger and poor living conditions. People come here to donate food and relief materials, but once these items are handed over to camp officials, we never see them again.”
Igban cited recent donations from Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr Paul Enenche, which he said were never distributed to the IDPs.
“We are dying here. Our children are starving, we sleep on bare floors, mosquitoes are killing us, and yet officials are hoarding aid meant for us,” he added.
Igban’s claim of about three people dying at the camp could however not be confirmed by our correspondent.
Another IDP, Erdoo Targa, who is heavily pregnant, expressed similar frustration.
She said, “I’m six months pregnant. There is no food, no medical attention. We are starving, and our children are already falling sick.
“The government brought us here and abandoned us. This protest is to call on authorities and kind-hearted Nigerians to help investigate what’s happening.”
Efforts to get comments from the Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Aondoaseer Kunde, and the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr James Iorpuu, were unsuccessful as calls and messages were not returned.
Meanwhile, SEMA’s Information Officer, Tema Ager, said the situation had been brought under control with food already supplied to the complainants.
Ager debunked the claim that three people died in the camp, saying investigation revealed that those people died outside the camp before their displaced relatives were brought to Makurdi.
“Also, the allegation about a woman having miscarriage in the camp was misinformation. We interviewed some relations and found out that the woman had an abortion before coming to camp but started bleeding this morning (Thursday). She had been taken to the hospital for treatment.
“Food was also distributed to the IDPs on Tuesday and even yesterday. Those protesting are some people inhabiting the neighborhood of the market (camp) who come to pose as IDPs.
“Again, we were not having enough accommodation because some shops were locked by their owners. While we are still rallying around to get accommodation for the new camp arrivals, they started complaining and even their biometric capturing is not complete.
“Those coming newly who are not yet capture was not given rooms. So, that was why they were complaining. The situation has calmed. The heads of security, working in conjunction with SEMA, have brought the challenge under control. They have been given food,” the Information officer posited.
