By Isaac Uzaan
Benue State Government has commenced the process of returning Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs) to their ancestral homes.
The exercise which began Friday, October 17, 2024 with the IDPs camp at Baka along 72 Barracks Road, North Bank Makurdi was another major step towards fulfilling Governor Alia’s campaign promise of returning IDPs back to their ancestral homes.
The Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Aondowase Kunde who coordinated the exercise alongside Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, IOM, and other stakeholders on behalf of the Governor said 3,698 IDPs comprising 1, 114 house holds at Baka camp in North Bank were to be moved to a temporary home constructed along Makurdi – Gbajimba Road.
Hon. Kunde explained that it has been the desire of the Governor that deliberate moves be taken to achieve the all important objective of returning IDPs to their ancestral homes.
He added that in search of durable solutions, the government of Benue State in partnership with International Organization for Migration (IOM has constructed temporary homes to accommodate the IDPs pending their eventual return to their very ancestral homes.
According to the commissioner, the government does not intend to keep the people in those camps for more than a year as the state action plan for durable solutions prepares to launch another return next month.
The Camp Chairman, Samson Unum and the Camp Women Leader Patricia Nyikor who spoke on behalf of the IDPs appreciated the Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia for a more decent accommodation with water, light and security for them.
