Hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State took to the streets on Wednesday, blocking parts of the Makurdi-Lafia Highway to protest hunger, poor medical care, and government neglect.
The protest occurred less than 24 hours after First Lady Oluremi Tinubu visited the state and pledged N1 billion for displaced persons.
Mostly victims of the June 13 Yelwata attacks, the protesters demanded to be returned to their ancestral homes, chanting, “We are hungry,” and “Our women are losing their pregnancies.”
“We have no food, no shelter, and no medical care,” said Rebecca Awuse, one of the IDPs. “Many pregnant women have lost their pregnancies… there are no drugs or health professionals at the camp.”
However, Terna Ager, Information Officer for the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), dismissed the claims as “politically motivated,” saying food was being distributed and the N1 billion donation was for resettlement, not immediate relief.