Metro

Strange Ailments Ravage Benue IDPs Camps As Food, Medical Supplies Dry Up

Published

2 years ago

August 25, 2023

Some victims of the ailment

The dire condition of internally displaced persons, IDPs, in Benue State has become a major source of concern requiring urgent intervention. The state is currently grappling with over two million IDPs taking refuge in camps and host communities, but to make matters worse is the deteriorating condition of the IDPs in their temporary camps abode.

From the army of children and youths who have been deprived of basic social amenities and the opportunity to attend school to nursing mothers who now use toilets as delivery rooms, in addition to the outbreak of strange ailments, the Benue IDP camps may be mistaken for enclaves for rejected and forgotten people.

The recent reports of pregnant women and their husbands, as well as some victims of ravaging diseases in one of the camps located in Agagbe, an isolated community in Gwer West Local Government Area, LGA, of the state, have left many in utter shock and disbelief. The IDPs seemed to have been abandoned to their fate; aside from the peripheral support and intervention they get from spirited organizations, there is nothing concrete in terms of medical support and food supplies.

One of the mothers who lost her baby in the camp, 27-year-old Shipinen Adoo, from Tse-Atakpa village, Sengev Council Ward, who lives in the camp with her husband, narrated her ordeal. She said: “I became pregnant while in the IDP camp, and I struggled because we had no money to access medical treatment until a few days ago, when I gave birth to a dead premature baby boy. I have also not felt well since then. That is the condition most of us are facing in the camp, yet nothing is being done to save the lives of those who need urgent intervention.”

Also, 40-year-old Ayoo Ngwa narrated how his pregnant wife was taken into a latrine in the camp for the delivery of her baby for lack of proper support. “When my pregnant wife started noticing that she wanted to deliver her child, she was taken to a latrine for delivery. Though not a healthy place, that is where most women in the camp are taken for delivery. That is what we are facing in the camp. Nobody cares about our situation. We have been abandoned to our fate,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, another 40-year-old mother of three, Tuna Agagbe, whose child is afflicted with a strange skin disease, also narrated her experience. She said: “Few days ago, my daughter Eucharia started scratching her body. I went and bought some medicine for her, but her condition got worse everyday, and now it has developed into wounds. I don’t know what to do next since I have no money to take her to the hospital to find out what is wrong and get treatment. As we speak, many children are also down with skin diseases.”

Speaking on the development, the camp manager, Jacob Ibaah, lamented that the IDPs were facing a dire situation that needed urgent intervention. According to him, two inmates had already lost their babies in the last few days. “One was a premature birth, the other one lost the baby while giving birth. Both incidents happened on Sunday and Monday last week.

“As we speak, there is hunger in the camp. Also, they (pregnant women) have no money to go to the hospital; so they delivered in the camp. Even a place to give birth is also a problem here; there is a space and a toilet built by Doctors Without Borders, or MSF, which is where most women here use for baby delivery. If they don’t have money to go to the hospital, they use the toilet. They give birth there since we are currently congested in the rooms. It’s really tough. And the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, is aware of this development.

“Also, there is also the issue of an outbreak of measles and other diseases here in the camp. Already, we have identified six children who are down with measles, and they have yet to receive medical attention. But as an alternative, they are taking native herbs. It is indeed a bad situation,” he informed.

Speaking on the condition of the IDPs, the Executive Secretary of Benue SEMA, Mr. James Iorpuu, who claimed that the agency was on top of the situation, said: “I allotted 200 bags of rice to them during the last food distribution exercise.”

VANGUARD

Metro

AAU Postpones Resumption Date

Published

1 hour ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, has approved, on behalf of the university’s Senate, the postponement of students’ resumption and commencement of academic activities.

In a statement,
Otunba Mike Aladenika,
Head, Information, Public Relations & Protocol, AAU, said the decision became necessary to enable the university to complete ongoing renovation works on student structures and facilities, aimed at enhancing the overall teaching and learning experience.

“According to him, the management is committed to providing a conducive environment for academic excellence and believes that this temporary adjustment will ultimately benefit our students.

“While the university management intends to announce a new resumption date, any student(s) still in our hostels are advised to vacate with immediate effect to allow for effective ongoing renovation works

“In light of this development, the university regrets to announce that the 140th Inaugural Lecture, originally scheduled for Thursday, 15th January 2026, and ongoing examinations have been postponed.

“A new date for the lecture and the completion of the examinations will be communicated to all stakeholders in due course.

“The university appreciates the understanding and cooperation of students, parents, and guardians on this matter.

“We urge all students to adhere to the new resumption date and prepare for a productive academic session.

“Parents and guardians are kindly requested to ensure their children/wards are aware of and comply with the revised resumption schedule.”

Metro

Protest Rocks Ekpoma Over Incessant Kidnapping

Published

3 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

Residents of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State on Saturday protested against incessant kidnappings in the area.

Ekpoma, in recent times has been under attack by kidnappers who snatched residents from their homes.

The protest grounded commercial activities as students of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, also joined in the protest.

The protesters, in anger, also pulled down campaign billboards for the 2027 general elections mounted in the university hosting town.

Speaking on the protest, Principal Security Officer to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Austin Eigbiremolen, assured that adequate security would be deployed to Ekpoma.

According to him, the kidnappers would be chased away from the area in no distance time.

Also reacting to the protest, Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, dismissed was top of the security situation in Ekpoma, adding the state Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, was already in Ekpoma.

Ikoedem said nine persons who were kidnapped on Friday were rescued unhurt after the Eagle Combat Drone Unit was deployed to the forest alongside local hunters.

“In the heat of the rescue operation, the kidnappers’ camp was located through real-time aerial intelligence.

“The ground troops stormed the camp, forcing the kidnappers to flee and abandon two locally fabricated AK-49 rifles.

“The victims, including five children were rescued unhurt. This landmark deployment underscores the transformative role of technology in modern policing and sets a new benchmark for operational enhancement in Edo State,” she said.

Metro

Man, 49, Arrested For Allegedly Defiling 13-year-old Girl In Oyo

Published

5 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

Oyo State Police Command has announced the arrest of a 49-year-old man, Peter Adubi, in connection with the alleged defilement of a 13-year-old girl.

The arrest was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday in Ibadan by the Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade.

According to the statement, the suspect was apprehended after the victim’s guardian reported the incident to the police on January 8, 2026, at about 8:50 p.m.

Ayanlade explained that the guardian became concerned after observing unusual sexual-related behavioural changes in the minor.

Upon gentle questioning, the girl disclosed that she had been sexually abused in 2022 while living with her mother in the Molade area of Ibadan.

He said, “Upon receipt of the report, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect (Adubi) allegedly committed the offence during that period. This disclosure provided the basis for immediate medical intervention to establish the facts of the case.

“Consequently, the minor was taken to the hospital for a medical examination, which confirmed sexual abuse. This medical evidence strengthened the case against the suspect and guided the next steps in the investigation.

“As a result, the suspect (Adubi) was taken into custody. The crime scene was visited, and the case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Gender Desk, for a discreet and thorough investigation.”

The Police Command assured residents that justice would be diligently pursued and urged them to remain vigilant, reporting any incidents of sexual abuse promptly, as community cooperation is vital in safeguarding children and ensuring a safer society.