The Benue State Government, on Wednesday, decried the rise in insecurity in the state which is preventing the displaced persons from returning to their ancestral homes.
The Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency and Management Agency, James Iorpuu, regretted that all efforts to ensure that the displaced people returned to their ancestral homes had been frustrated with continuous attacks by suspected herders.
Iorpuu stated this while briefing journalists during the distribution of food and non-food items to displaced persons in the state.
He said the materials would be distributed to eight local government areas, which are Kwande, Katsina-Ala, Ukum, Apa, Okpokwu, Agatu, Guma and Logo.
He said, “In Ukum, Gbajir, we have displacements in Jootar and Ayati communities. We 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 2,250 bags of 25kg rice, 990 bags of 25kg beans, 140 bags of 25kg garri, 2,210 cartons of noodles, 150 gallons of 25kg groundnut oil, 202 gallons of palm oil,1,700 cartons of seasoning, 200 bags of salt, 63 bags of sugar, 776 bags of 50 kg salt. 155 bags of detergents, 107 cartons of soap and 300 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.