Emmanuel Shior, the immediate past Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has faulted the claims by Governor Hyacinth Alia that his administration did not inherit any data on the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) within the state.
In a statement made available to journalists in Makurdi, Dr. Shior expressed concern over the governor’s assertion, questioning whether the administration also lacks data on the Cameroonian refugees that the state is currently hosting.
He emphasized the importance of accurate data in addressing the humanitarian crisis stemming from escalating insecurity in the state, which has resulted in a growing IDP population.
“Governor Alia’s claim is a misrepresentation of the facts. In my handover notes, I documented data indicating approximately two million IDPs and around ten thousand Cameroonian refugees in Benue State,” Dr. Shior stated.
The former Executive Secretary of Benue SEMA, who is a lecturer at the Federal University of Lafia, emphasized that the previous administration established strategic partnerships and conducted symposiums aimed at generating reliable data for effective IDP management.
This collaborative effort, he said, included partnerships with various national and international organizations such as NEMA, UNHCR, and UNICEF, culminating in the creation of the Benue State Humanitarian Response Plan.
Shior noted that Governor Alia had previously acknowledged the same data in media presentations and discussions with humanitarian partners and wondered why the governor has suddenly turned around to speak in a contradictory tone.
“What is particularly ironic is that while the governor claims to have improved conditions for IDPs, new camps are being established without adequate provisions for their welfare,” he said.
