When on May 29, 2023, Reverend Fr Hyacinth Alia took the oath of office as the Governor of Benue State, he vowed to run a robust administration that would massively transform the state, and ensure equity and development. He also vowed to provide a well-secured environment for people to pursue their legitimate means of livelihood and attract investments for employment in all sectors.
On this note, the governor came into office with a clear seven-point agenda anchored on the security of lives and property; agriculture and rural development; commerce and industry; human capital and social development; infrastructure and environment; information and communications technology; and political and economic governance.
It was on this note that he appointed a humanitarian, James Iorpuu as the Executive Secretary of Benue State Emergency Management Agency, BSEMA in June 2023, to handle the affairs of the Benue displaced persons as he restores Security in the state.
Following his appointment as the Executive Secretary, of BSEMA, on the 7th of June 2023, Iorpuu, called on the federal government, donors and development partners in the Northeast to relocate to Benue and assist Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
According to him, the humanitarian crisis in Benue was worse than what was currently happening in Nigeria’s North East due to insurgency and terrorism. He explained that with the persistent attacks on communities in Benue, many people had been killed and millions displaced and taking refuge in IDP camps.
Barely a year after his appointment, Iorapuu has exhibited shrewdness in managing the humanitarian situation in the state, meeting with critical stakeholders, state actors and donor agencies, and even ensuring the journey of returning IDPs home.
The exercise which began on Friday, October 17, 202,4 with the IDPs camp at Baka along 72 Barracks Road, North Bank Makurdi was another major step towards fulfilling Governor Alia’s campaign promise of returning IDPs back to their ancestral homes.
There are over 10IDPs camps in the state, with the BSEMA boss calling on the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to demonstrate exemplary conduct as they embark on a mission to capture the biometric data of displaced populations in Otukpo and Gboko Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Business Day understood that the Benue State Government in collaboration with IOM has already over five thousand units for the IDPs at the Mega camp at the Mbayongo community along Gbajimba road in the Guma local government area of the state. More units will be built.
IDPs from NEPA quarters in North Bank Makurd were happy to move to Mega camp. Sixty-year-old IDP, Akase Koo, said he was happy to move to the Mega camp. He has been living in the camp for about seven years and to relocate to another place according to him was a good development and appreciated the Benue State Government for the gesture.
Eight hundred and thirty-five persons from 171 households have been relocated already, according to figures by Iorpuu. He explains that the state government was providing facilities at the Mega camp including electricity, water, a market, a hospital, and a school among other facilities for the benefit of the IDPs.
Chagu Emmanuella the camp Manager while speaking to Business Day appreciated the Benue State Governor for the support to the IDPs throughout their days at the camp and expressed the hope that the Governor would maintain the spirit.
Other officials of the camp including Mbafan Hwakar, and Samuel Igbudu among others also expressed gratitude for the relocation of the IDPs to the Mega camp and as well lauded the state government’s efforts in putting smiles on the faces of the IDPs.
IDPs at Acwa and Baka camps are next in line to be relocated.
According to the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in the state, Aondowase Kunde, it is in search of durable solutions, that the government of Benue State in partnership with IOM has constructed temporary homes to accommodate the IDPs pending their eventual return to their very ancestral homes.
According to the commissioner, the government does not intend to keep the people in those camps for more than a year as the state action plan for durable solutions prepares to launch another return next month.
Pundits see this as a positive step towards returning Benue IDPs home.
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