By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, in Benue State, Dr Emmanuel Shior has urged the international community, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs as well as non governmental organizations to come to the aid of the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the state.
The SEMA Helmsman who stated this while carrying out an assessment of the victims of Agagbe and Aondoana communities of Gwer-west Local Government Area where the IDPs recently attacked by Suspected Herdsmen Militia in local government were camped.
The Executive Secretary condemned the attacks on Benue Communities by herdsmen, stressing that the victims were being deprived of their homes and lands which he said has given rise to the number of IDPs in the state.
According to Shior, government is stepping up efforts to look for ways of ameliorating the sufferings of the victims.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Gwer-west Local Government Area, Mrs. Grace Igbabon who condemned the attacks, appreciated Governor Samuel Ortom for standing against the Invaders who have rendered over two thousand people homeless.
The Chairman who was represented by the Deputy Chairman, Mr Julius Utwav, explained that the local government has provided St Francis primary school Agagbe, St Peters Primary school Aondoana in the local government as camps for the Displaced Persons.
The Chairman who also spoke with Journalists shortly after a closed door meeting with Governor Samuel Ortom at the Government House Makurdi, confirmed the Killing of seventeen persons by Suspected Herdsmen.
Meanwhile, the Action Aide Nigeria has promised to provide relief materials for two thousand five hundred house holds in Konshisha local government area following displacement of people due to the Military operation in the area.
The Country Director, Action Aide Nigeria, Mrs Ene Obi disclosed this during a courtesy visit to Governor Samuel Ortom at the Government House Makurdi.
She pointed out that the gesture was to compliment Benue State Government’s efforts towards cushioning the hardship being faced by the victims.
