The population of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State has continued to rise following renewed attacks on several communities across the state by suspected armed herdsmen and bandits.

Residents say the persistent invasions and attacks have forced hundreds of families to flee their ancestral homes in search of safety, worsening the humanitarian situation in the already overcrowded IDP camps.

Our correspondent reports that Benue has 16 IDP camps in four local government areas (LGAs) housing IDPs in Benue State. These include Daudu I, Daudu II, Gbajimba 1, ‎Gbajimba II, Ortese, and Uikpam in Guma LGA, Agagbe, NKST and UBE in Gwer West, Anyiin and ‎Ugba in ‎Logo LGA as well as ‎Abagena, Ichwa First gate Federal Housing North. Bank, along Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University road and the mega camp Mbayongu housing three IDP camps which is part of Ichwa, Baka and NEPA Quarters, North Bank.

‎Benue also has Cameroonian refugees at Ikyogen Cattle Ranch in Kwande LGA while IDPs in Agatu, Apa, ‎Kwande and ‎Otukpo LGAs are living with host communities.

Communities in parts of Kwande, Logo, Ukum, Gwer West, Apa and Agatu Local Government Areas have come under fresh attacks in the last few weeks, leaving many people dead, others injured, while properties; houses, food barns and farmlands were destroyed.

Survivors narrated that most of the attacks occurred unprovoked and at night, forcing villagers to escape into nearby bushes before making their way to temporary shelters and IDP camps.

At the Agagbe IDP camp in Gwer West, a camp leader who identified himself simply as Terna said attacks on communities happen frequently, explaining painfully that while some are reported, many others go unreported.

He said as a result, the camps are experiencing an increase in the influx of victims into the camps, a development he noted has stretched available facilities beyond capacity, especially at the newly constructed transit shelters close to the LG Secretariat, in Naka where IDPs from NKST and UBE were moved to recently.

He said women and children do not have conducive sleeping spaces while others complained of inadequate food, poor sanitation and limited access to healthcare services.

In Kwande LGA, and Turan land especially, about five districts hosting mining companies, including Imbesev, Maav and parts of Jato-Aka among others, have been left in a devastating security condition as residents witness frequently attacks. According to the leader of the Turan Development Association, (TUDA) Ahar Bichi, the frequent attacks have forced the community leaders to suspend mining activities in the area.

Another community leader in the area who corroborated his story said between January and March 2026, Turan communities have witnessed continued attacks leading to the death of over 70 people with hundreds villagers, including women and children displaced.

A displaced farmer from Turan, Mr Terna Aondohemba, said he lost his home and farmlands during an attack on his village adding that several families arrived at the camp with nothing except the clothes they were wearing.

He appealed to government and humanitarian agencies to provide urgent support, especially food, medication and learning materials for displaced children.

In Otukpko, the council Chairman, Maxwell Ogiri confirmed that new attacks have swelled the number of displaced persons in his domain. According to him while majority of people in Umuogidi community have been displaced, the entire Entekpa community have been sacked.

Ogiri who noted that they do not have any formal IDP camps in Otukpko, said many other communities that are relatively safe have been witnessing population explosion with majority taking refuge in Adoka. “Many people are displaced. Right now some of them are renting houses in and living in Adoka.”

In Agatu LGA, the situation is not different as suspected herdsmen and bandits unleashed mayhem almost on daily basis. On May 3, 2026, the Chairman of Agatu, Melvin Ejeh confirmed an attack along Aila Odugheho road while another attack also occurred in Olegabulu community in Agatu where kill traditional ruler, his wife, son, others were killed.

Ejeh had also affirmed that majority of residents in the attacked communities have been displaced and now taking shelter with relatives in neighbouring communities that are relatively safe.

The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) acknowledged that pockets of attacks have taken place recently, saying efforts are being made to provide relief to affected communities and IDPs on monthly basis.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO), SEMA, Mr Terma Ager, noted that the situation of attacks has reduced drastically compared to what was happening before both in Kwande, Agatu and Otukpo.

He explained that with the recent attacks, the governor issued a standing directive for the forests surrounding these places to be combed by the security forces to flush out the insurgents.

“People are feeling more safe in the IDP camps but the governor is working day and night to bring the situation to the barest minimum to allow the people to return home to their various ancestral homes.

“The population is not swelling in those camps again because many people have returned to their farms especially where the security is beefed up to safeguard life and property in Agatu and Kwande. More is being done to curtail the further imminent attacks.”

He disclosed that on May 7, 2026, the SEMA Executive Secretary and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sir James Iorpuu conducted another exercise in continuation of the monthly distribution of food and non-food items to IDPs across the camps and host communities in Benue State.

“The distribution is just a meagre token to cushion the effect compare to what the current administration plans for the vulnerable population. We look forward to more partners, government and non-governmental.

He said the state government would not rest in on its oars to ensure that peace returns to the state to enable the IDPs return to their ancestral homes. (The Sun)

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