From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sir James Iorpuu, has disclosed that only six out of the 23 Local Government Areas in Benue State are free from herdsmen attacks in the state.
Iorpuu, who stated this while speaking to newsmen in Makurdi on Wednesday, October 8, listed Ogbadibo, Ohimini, Konshisha, Gboko, Ushongo and one other as those LGAs that were not affected by herdsmen attacks.
Iorpuu, who is also the Executive Secretary of Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), acknowledged that the number of IDPs have increased after the attacks in Naka, Gwer West in May 2024 and Yelewata in Guma LGAs, and said the state government was still carrying out biometric registration of IDPs to ascertain the current figure.
He however noted that at the last count, Benue has 618,000 displaced persons living in IDP camps and host communities.
Speaking on the flooding, the SEMA boss said only the dredging of Rivers Benue and Niger by the federal government would address the persistent flooding and displacement of residents.
He explained that the just concluded Conference of State Emergency Management Agencies in Lagos State has widened the horizons of emergency managers across the states on how to go about issues as they occur.
Sir Iorpuu also dismissed claims from an independent assessor that Benue State under the leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia was low in performance in office.
While wondering what parameters the assessor used, Iorpuu said evidence abounds that Governor Alia has delivered dividends of democracy to his people.
He said, “For the Governor to have not borrowed money from any financial institution since assumption of office is a clear indication of purposeful leadership and accountability.
“The person must be dreaming while carrying out such assessment. Since the creation of Benue State, Fr. Hyacinth Alia is a special gift to Benue State. For the first time, we are seeing an underpass in Makurdi, we have industries springing up and for over 24 years, parents are withdrawing their children from private schools to public schools.
“May be the person is rating performance based on sharing of public funds. If it’s on sharing of government funds the governor has failed but if it’s on performance, Governor Hyacinth Alia has done and is doing well.”
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