By Uja Emmanuel
The Executive Secretary of Benue State Emergency Management Agency SEMA Dr Emmanuel Shior said the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the state have witnessed 80 births in six months.
There are about six IDP camps spread across the state with over two million inmates as a result of attacks on farmers by herdsmen.
At the monthly distribution of relief materials for the IDPs in Makurdi, the Benue State capital at the weekend, Dr Shior said though the agency could not stop the sexual needs of families, it was worried at the indiscriminate indulgence in sex in the camps, especially among those not married.
He said the agency is working with the United Nations Population Commission (UNPC) to commence a head count for those in displaced camps to ascertain an accurate census.
Dr Shior, who distributed over 4,000 food and non-food items, appealed to the Federal Government to provide security for the displaced people to return to their communities.
“The IDPs are not happy staying back in camps and receiving relief materials. But their communities are not safe as they have been occupied by killer herdsmen,” he said.
According to Dr Shior, the monthly distribution of relief materials was Governor Samuel Ortom’s way of providing succour for the people who have been in camps since 2018 when the attacks on farmers began.
He said for the month of July, relief materials are going to be distributed to IDP camps in Makurdi, Guma, Logo, Okpukwu and Kwande local government areas.
Items distributed included rice, beans, yams, plates, spoons, clothes and sleeping mats.
He called on public-spirited individuals to support the efforts of the government to provide the basic needs of the IDPs.