The displaced persons from the Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, on Thursday, protested the bad conditions of living in the camp provided by the state government.

The displaced people were camped at the International Market in Makurdi, following the coordinated attacks on the community by suspected armed herders, leaving many residents dead and houses razed.

President Bola Tinubu, governors of the North-Central states, among others visited Benue State on Wednesday, to meet stakeholders on how to end hostilities in the state.

The President also visited the hospital where some of the victims of the attack were receiving treatment.

He was, however, unable to visit the scene of the incident in Yelwata, due to bad road.

On Thursday, protesters took to the streets of Makurdi and blocked all the major entrances leading to the temporary camp located at George Akume Way, Makurdi, to register their displeasure over the maltreatment given them since arrival at the camp.

They accused state government officials of diverting relief materials donated to them by public-spirited individuals and humanitarian organisations.

One of the IDPs who identified himself as Fidelis Igban from the Yelwata community lamented starvation and the bad condition of the environment.

He said, “Imagine, people would come to the camp and donate food items and other relief materials to us (IDPs), and once those items were handed over to the officials, that’s the end.

“Just a few days ago, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, came to the camp and donated some items for onward distribution to IDPs. Up till now, we have not seen anything.

“The Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr Paul Enenche, came here and donated materials for our consumption, yet nothing gets to us. We are starving and dying here. We want to go back to our homes.

“We are running away from our comfort homes due to herdsmen attacks after our parents, children and wives were killed and now, we are here facing another critical challenge.

“There’s no food, our children are starving, we sleep on the floor, and mosquitoes are almost killing us. We are suffering, and people are dying. Officials overseeing camp management were hoarding and diverting donated materials,” he said.

Another IDP, Erdoo Targa, said she was six months pregnant before arriving at the camp and found it difficult to access medical facilities.

“The government brought us here and abandoned us. No food, no medical care, hunger is telling on us. We are starving and our children are getting sick day by day,” she said.

We embarked on this protest to draw the attention of the government and public-spirited individuals to our plight,” she added.

Efforts to speak with the Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Aondoaseer Kude and the Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency, Dr James Iorpuu, were not successful, as they did not respond to calls and text messages.

The Information Officer for SEMA, Tema Ager, said he was not authorised to comment on the protest.

“Kindly get across to the Head of Administration of SEMA or the Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management.

“They are in better positions to speak to journalists. Thanks,” Ager said.