The Benue State Government has taken a significant step to bolster security in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the state, by deploying over 5,000 Civil Protection Guards to work alongside Nigerian security agencies.
Governor Hyacinth Alia made this announcement on Thursday at the Old Banquet Hall of the Government House in Makurdi during a meeting with the Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Paola Pace; the Head of the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operation (ECHO), Alexander Castello; and their delegation.
The governor highlighted the alarming scale of displacement in the state, revealing that since 2018, over 1.5 million people have been forced to flee their ancestral homes due to communal crises. This, he said, has made Benue State home to the largest number of IDPs in North-Central Nigeria.
Governor Alia explained that more than 500,000 displaced persons currently reside in 26 camps spread across 185 host communities in the state. He lamented the harsh living conditions they endure, which include inadequate shelter, limited access to clean water, sanitation, healthcare services, and a lack of robust protection mechanisms. These challenges, he said, demand collective and innovative solutions.
To address these issues, Governor Alia reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to tackling the root causes of displacement and fostering sustainable solutions. He disclosed several interventions, including: enrolling over 6,000 vulnerable individuals from 15 IDP camps into the Benue State Health Insurance Scheme to ensure access to healthcare; allocating 70 hectares of land for the construction of dignified homes for IDPs, which would accommodate over 5,000 displaced households through the support of development partners; and empowering host communities with resources and social services to promote harmony and alleviate tensions resulting from the influx of IDPs.
Despite these efforts, the governor expressed concern over continued attacks on communities, citing a recent assault that affected over 1,000 households.
The IOM Chief of Mission, Pace reiterated her organisation’s commitment to alleviating the suffering of IDPs in Benue. She emphasised the importance of building a nation where no one is oppressed. Similarly, ECHO Head Alexander Castellano commended Nigerians for their resilience and pledged support for the welfare of IDPs through funding initiatives.