Why Benue is not contemplating closure of IDP camps – Gov. Ortom

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom says his administration has no intention of closing any of the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs camps for the time being.

He stated this on Monday March 2nd, 2020 at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi during a meeting with the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, civil society organisations and security agencies on the current humanitarian situation in the state.

Governor Ortom stated that the security situation in the displaced and ravaged areas was not yet safe for the IDPs to return to their homes, stressing that much needed to be done to first secure the affected arrears.

He noted that several visits to the IDPs camps had confirmed that the IDPs were eager to return to their homes, pointing out however that allowing them to do so now would amount to endangering their lives.

The Governor expressed concern over the influx of armed herdsmen and their cattle into the state, stressing that the law on ranching was still in force and open grazing would not be condoned.

According to the Governor, his recent visit to the United States of America had revealed to him several attempts being made by certain forces to change the narrative about herders and farmers crisis in Benue.

Governor Ortom charged civil society organisations to speak out against the humanitarian situation in the state and the need to ensure adequate security in displaced areas and rebuilding of destroyed homes for the return of those in the camps.

Those who spoke including the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Emmanuel Shior and those from the Civil Society Organisations, harped on inadequate security arrangements in the displaced areas for the return of the IDPs.