FG neglects Benue IDPs, funds only northeast – Group laments

By Kingsley Chukwuka

The Federal Government who pledged to support over 1.5 million Internally Displaced Person (IDPs), scattered all over Benue State, has failed in its promise, living the burden for only Governor Samuel Ortom and the Benue State Government, a Group has said.

The Group under the aegis of Benue Youth Forum said the IDPs in the Northeast region gets Federal Government full attention, an act seen to partial and lopsided all because Governor Ortom “speaks truth to power”.

President of the Group, Mr. Terrance Kuanum who spoke in a statement sent to our correspondent on Friday, also accused the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Sen. George Akume, for conniving with the Federal Government to short changed the Benue people due to his rift with Governor Ortom.

According to Kuanum: “The Federal Government should hasten efforts to redeem its pledge that was made through the Vice President Prof Yemi Osibanjo to rebuild our destroyed communities.

“The Federal Government should also stop making a mockery of itself for denying Benue their share of the ranching funds knowing fully well that Benue is the pacesetter of the ranching revolution in Nigeria.

“The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), should realize that the over 1.5million displaced persons living in IDP camps in Benue are citizens of Nigeria who also deserve to live. Adequate care should be extended to them in the same measure it is being done in the North East”, he said.

Kuanum however lauded the efforts of Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) Dr. Emmanuel Shio, for spending sleepless nights attending to IDP in the State.

He urge the people to continue to support Shio in his efforts to ensure that Benue IDPs survives despite the federal government neglect, Kuanum said.