Displaced residents from the Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State staged a protest in Makurdi on Thursday, demanding urgent intervention over deteriorating conditions in their camp.
The internally displaced persons (IDPs), currently residing at the International Market camp along George Akume Way, blocked key roads to draw attention to what they described as official neglect and the alleged diversion of relief materials.
“We’re starving and dying here,” said Fidelis Igban, one of the protest leaders. “Relief items are donated regularly just recently, Senator George Akume and Dr. Paul Enenche sent supplies. But once these reach the camp officials, they disappear. We receive nothing.”
The protesters accused government officials overseeing camp management of hoarding supplies meant for displaced families. They said food is extremely limited, children are suffering from malnutrition, and essential items are nowhere to be found.
“We sleep on bare floors. Mosquitoes are killing us, and people are constantly falling ill,” Igban added. “We escaped deadly herdsmen attacks only to face another slow death here—from hunger and disease.”
Another protester, Erdoo Targa, who arrived at the camp six months pregnant, highlighted the severe lack of medical care.
“The government brought us here and then forgot about us,” she said. “We are battling hunger daily, our children are unwell, and we have no access to healthcare.”
Targa called on both government authorities and humanitarian organizations to investigate the alleged mismanagement of aid and ensure that donations reach the intended beneficiaries.
Efforts to reach Benue State’s Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Aondoaseer Kude, and the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. James Iorpuu, were unsuccessful.
When contacted, SEMA spokesperson Tema Ager declined to comment, saying, “Please reach out to the Head of Administration or the Commissioner for official statements.”
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