Benue SEMA finally moves foodstuff to Mbawa IDP camp, others

…Tsav Describes Situation As Very Sad, Pathetic
Following recent widespread media reports that Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs) staying at Mbawa camp in Daudu are dying of hunger and diseases, the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has finally commenced the distribution of foodstuff to Mbawa and other IDP camps.

Executive Secretary, SEMA, Emmanuel Shior, who doled out the foodstuff, said apart from the Mbawa camp in Daudu, the food materials were also moved to the IDPs in Logo, Guma, Makurdi, Gwer West and Kwande camps. He acknowledged to newsmen that government has recently moved in to Mbawa camp after several efforts to relocate them to a camp in Daudu, which is officially recognized and has the necessary facilities to accommodate them, failed.

He also denied knowledge of IDPs parents giving out their daughters in marriage in exchange for food.He said the governor had continued to dialogue with the federal government to intensify efforts towards reducing the challenges of insurgency, and insecurity in the rural areas. He also noted that the IDPs were yet to return because there were still some pockets of attacks in some places. According to Shior, some IDPs had attempted going to their homes but were attacked and had to run back.

Speaking on the federal government’s efforts to rebuild ravaged communities to enhance return of IDPs to their homes, Shior said they were yet to see efforts.

But, commenting on the situation at Mbawa IDP camp located in Daudu, the erstwhile Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Tsav described the situation as very sad and pathetic. “Their continued stay in the camp under such sub-human conditions is counter productive and life-threatening,” he said.