The displaced persons from Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State following the coordinated attacks by suspected armed herders on Thursday, protested the bad conditions of living in the camp.

The IDPs were camped at the International Market, in Makurdi, the capital city

The protesters took to the streets of Makurdi and blocked all the major entrances leading to the temporary camp located at George Akume Way, Makurdi, to register their displeasure and mistreatment since their arrival at the camp.

The IDPs accused state government officials of diverting relief materials donated to them by public spirited individuals and humanitarian organisations, a development, they said had brought untold hardship to them.

One of the IDPs who identified himself as Fidelis Igban from Yelwata community in the camp as a result of starvation and bad condition of the environment.

He said, “Imagine, people would come to the camp and donate food items and other relief materials to us(IDPs), and once those items were handed over to the officials, it will end up not reaching us.

“Just few days ago, secretary to the government of the federation, Senator George Akume came to the camp and donated some items for onward distribution to IDPs. Up till now, we have not seen anything.

“The Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Paul Enenche, came here and donated materials for our consumption, yet nothing gets to us. We are starving and dying here. We want to go back to our homes.

“We are running away from our comfort homes due to herdsmen attacks after our parents, children and wives were killed and now, we are here facing another critical challenges.

“There’s no food, our children are starving, we sleep on the floor, and mosquitoes are almost killing us. We are suffering, and people are dying. officials overseeing camp management were hoarding and diverting donated materials.

Also speaking, Erdoo Targa, said that she was six months pregnant before arriving at the camp and find it difficult to access medical facilities.

“Government brought us here and abandoned us. No food, no medical care, hunger is telling us, we are starving and our children are getting sick day by day”.

We embarked on this protest to draw the attention of government and public spirited individuals to our plight”, she said.

She appealed to the State Government and relevant humanitarian agencies to investigate the alleged misconduct and ensure transparency in the distribution of aid meant for us.

Efforts to speak with the Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Aondoaseer Kude and the Executive Secretary , State Emergency Management Agency, Dr James Iorpuu, were not successful as they could not respond to call and text messages.

However, the information Officers for State Emergency Management Agency, Tema Ager, said he was not authorised to comment on the protest.

“Kindly get across to the Head of Administration of SEMA or the Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management.

” They are in better position to speak to journalists, thanks”, Ager said. (The PUNCH)