The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has announced that 80 families from internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in the state have returned to their ancestral homes in Makurdi, the state capital. According to Dr. James Iorpuu, Executive Secretary of SEMA, the returnees are from Tatyough and Tyomu communities.
During a monthly relief distribution exercise in Makurdi, Dr. Iorpuu, who is also the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, stated that SEMA has provided basic amenities in the two communities to improve the standard of living of the returnees. He noted that despite the challenges facing IDPs in the state, the governor has shown remarkable compassion and determination in addressing them through practical interventions.
The agency has commenced the distribution of food and non-food items across 15 official IDP camps in the state. The items include 2,300 bags of rice, 600 bags of beans, 150 gallons of red oil, 140 cartons of maggi, and 160 gallons of groundnut oil, among others. Dr. Iorpuu emphasized that the state government, in collaboration with partners, is taking deliberate steps to restore livelihoods and rebuild communities.
In addition to providing relief, the government is working to ensure proper documentation and inclusion of IDPs through the issuance of new identity cards. The agency has also drilled solar-powered boreholes in returnee communities, such as Tatyough, and initiated housing and water projects at Naka Dam, including the construction of a water treatment plant.
The efforts are part of Governor Alia’s “Renewed Hope Vision,” which aims to restore dignity, promote self-reliance, and ensure the safe and sustainable return of displaced populations. The governor’s administration is committed to addressing the challenges facing IDPs in the state, and the recent return of 80 families to their ancestral homes is a significant step towards achieving this goal.
The distribution of relief items and the provision of basic amenities in returnee communities are expected to continue, with the state government working closely with partners, including the UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), to support the recovery and rebuilding efforts. As the state continues to grapple with the challenges of displacement, the government’s efforts to provide relief, restore livelihoods, and rebuild communities are crucial to ensuring the well-being and dignity of affected populations.