IDPs: Benue spent N160m on snakebite treatment in 6 months – State government

The Benue state government has spent more than ₦160 million treating internally displaced persons (IDPs) for snakebites over a six-month period, as thousands of residents displaced by insecurity continue to face challenges accessing food, healthcare and adequate shelter.

The Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), James Iorpuu, disclosed the expenditure while responding to concerns about the welfare of displaced people living in camps across the state. Blueprint reports

Iorpuu said the funds were spent on healthcare interventions between March and September 2026, with the state government arranging medical treatment for affected IDPs at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi.

He explained that the intervention became necessary amid inadequate support from humanitarian organisations and other partners, adding that SEMA had continued to provide medical assistance to displaced persons requiring urgent attention.

According to him, the expenditure covered snakebite treatment alone, while the agency had also facilitated care for other serious illnesses and medical emergencies affecting camp residents.

The disclosure highlights the financial pressure associated with supporting displaced communities in Benue, where persistent insecurity has forced many residents to abandon their homes and livelihoods.

Healthcare challenges in displacement camps

Beyond snakebite treatment, Iorpuu said SEMA had continued to provide assistance to IDPs through healthcare services and the distribution of food and non-food relief materials.

He acknowledged, however, that the agency was operating under resource constraints that had affected its ability to sustain the volume of assistance previously provided to displaced households.

The SEMA chief said the quantity of food distributed to camps each month had declined considerably from earlier levels, reflecting the difficulties involved in meeting the needs of the displaced population with available resources.

His comments came amid complaints from camp leaders who described living conditions across the state’s 14 officially recognised IDP camps as increasingly difficult.

Leaders from the Agagbe, Daudu and Mega camps, who spoke to journalists anonymously over fears of possible victimisation, identified irregular food supplies, inadequate shelter, poor sanitation and limited livelihood opportunities among their major concerns.

They also raised questions about access to healthcare and the level of humanitarian assistance available to residents who have spent extended periods away from their communities.

One of the camp representatives said food distribution had become unpredictable despite expectations that relief materials would be provided monthly.

The representative alleged that camp leaders had previously been invited by SEMA for discussions after authorities learnt that some displaced people in Makurdi and Guma were considering staging a protest over the prolonged absence of food assistance.

According to the camp leader, another distribution exercise took place following the engagement, but the quantity of food supplied was insufficient for the population’s needs.

The representative further alleged that approximately four months had passed since the last distribution, leaving many households uncertain about when further assistance would arrive.

The claims reflect a gap between the relief needs reported by camp residents and the resources the state agency says are available to support them.

Displaced residents seek safe return home

For many IDPs, the immediate concern extends beyond food and medical assistance to the possibility of returning to their ancestral communities.

Camp leaders said some of the areas from which residents fled remained unsafe, making a permanent return difficult despite the hardship of prolonged displacement.

One representative said displaced families wanted to return home but could not do so confidently while security threats persisted in their communities.

Some residents from areas where hostilities have reportedly reduced have begun making periodic visits to their communities to pursue economic activities and support their families, according to the camp leaders.

However, such movements do not necessarily mean that conditions are safe enough for a full return, particularly for households that have lost homes, farmland or other sources of livelihood.

The situation illustrates the challenges facing displaced communities as they attempt to rebuild their lives while depending on relief assistance that may be irregular or insufficient.

Safe and sustainable resettlement would require not only improved security but also the restoration of livelihoods and access to essential services in affected communities.

SEMA cites resource constraints, disputes protest claims

Responding to the concerns, Iorpuu maintained that the state government had continued to support displaced persons despite dwindling resources and difficulties in meeting their needs.

He also said SEMA was working with humanitarian partners, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, on interventions connected to resettlement.

However, the agency chief rejected claims that the proposed protest by IDPs was primarily driven by food shortages.

Iorpuu alleged that some individuals were encouraging the demonstration because of restrictions on visits to the camps. He did not provide further details in the reported comments to substantiate the allegation.

His position contrasts with the account given by camp representatives, who linked the planned protest to the absence of regular food distributions and broader concerns about living conditions.

The differing accounts underline the need for continued engagement between the authorities and displaced communities to clarify concerns, assess immediate needs and improve communication over the delivery of assistance.

While the ₦160 million spent on snakebite treatment represents a substantial healthcare intervention, the wider challenges identified by camp residents include food security, sanitation, shelter, livelihoods and the safety required for them to return home.

For the displaced population, addressing these needs will remain essential to reducing dependence on emergency relief and creating conditions for a more secure and sustainable future.