Benue Camp Commandant reveals how herdsmen killed 10 IDPs

Benue Camp Commandant reveals how herdsmen killed 10 IDPs

 Taiwo Aremu

No fewer than 10 internally displaced persons have so far been killed in Camp One and Camp Two located in Gbanjimba, headquarters of the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

This was disclosed by the camp commandant, Mr Felix Banke, on Wednesday when the team of the United States Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance visited the camp.

There are about 15 official internally Displaced Persons camps located across the state.

The acting  Executive Secretary of State Emergency and Management Agency, James Iorpuu, led the USBHA to six IDP camps in the state.

The  six IDP camps visited by the international organisation are Ichuwa, Bakkaa, Ukpaan, Otese, Daudu and Gbanjimba all in Makurdi and Guma LGAs.

The Senior Humanitarian Advisor to the USBHA, Patrick Robinson, had on Tuesday assured the Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, of the organisation’s readiness to help address the  humanitarian crisis in the state.

Addressing the team,  the Camp Commandant said Fulani herdsmen last week invaded and killed one person at IDP Camp 1, in Gbanjimba.

He said, “So far, we have lost nine displaced persons in this Camp 2, and just a few days ago, one displaced person was killed in Camp 2, who is yet to be buried.

“They were killed by armed herders who invaded the camps at different times.”

At the time of the visit on Wednesday,  Fulani herdsmen were seen openly grazing  behind Camp, 2.

The acting Executive Secretary of SEMA, Sir James Iorpuu, said Governor Alia  was working with the Federal Government and the international community to ensure  the safe return of the IDPs back home.