The Benue state government has distributed truck load of food items to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the state.
Speaking during the monthly distribution of relief materials to IDPs in the state, Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mr. Emmanuel Shior, also appealed to the federal government and international agencies to assist the state to ensure their safe return to their various ancestral homes.
“It is not our wish to keep the IDPs in camps forever as a government that is responsive and responsible. But it requires the support of the federal government in charge of security agencies to assist the state government achieve this by ensuring the communities are secured enough for them to return.
“Since that is yet to be done, we have taken it as a responsibility to provide food and other support to the IDPs. We will continue to provide food to them on a monthly basis.That is why we are here today also.”
According to the SEMA boss, 3000 bags of 25kg rice, 1000 bags of guinea corn, 1000 bags of maize, 1000 cartons of noodles and 1000 bags of garri would be distributed to IDPs in camps in Makurdi, Guma, Gwer West, Kwande, Logo, and other affected local government areas including Okpokwu, which was attacked recently by suspected herdsmen.
Shior said state government have been making frantic efforts to provide food, shelter, medical and other support for the IDPs further urged the media to continue to escalate the situations of IDPs in Benue to ensure that the federal government and international community come to their aid.