By Correspondent in Makurdi.
Relief efforts are underway in Benue State as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with local and international partners, begins the distribution of humanitarian aid to victims of recent attacks that displaced over 3,000 people.
The aid, coordinated with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Red Cross, is being delivered at the newly established Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at Makurdi International Market.
According to NEMA, urgent relief materials including food, non-food items, potable water, and essential medical supplies are being mobilized to support the victims, many of whom are women, children, and the elderly.
Our correspondent gathered that as of Sunday night, a total of 1,069 households,comprising 6,527 individuals,had been registered at the camp.
Among them are 1,768 females, 759 males, 657 children under 18, 1,870 adults above 18, 252 lactating mothers, 82 pregnant women, and 91 elderly persons.
The displacement follows coordinated attacks by unidentified gunmen on some communities in many parts of the state.
The latest incident occurred on Saturday in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, where armed assailants reportedly opened fire on residents in the early hours of the morning.
Although casualty figures are still being verified due to security constraints and limited access to some areas, preliminary reports suggest that more than 100 people may have been killed.
In response to a distress call, troops of the Nigerian Army and personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were deployed. Tragically, two soldiers and one NSCDC officer were killed in an ambush near Daudu while responding to the crisis.
The Police Command in Benue State confirmed the attacks and said that several of the attackers were neutralized during a gun battle with security forces.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
