Benue govt spends ₦160m treating snakebite victims in IDP camps

The Benue State Government has spent over ₦160 million treating internally displaced persons (IDPs) for snakebites between March and September 2026.

According to The PUNCH, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), James Iorpuu, disclosed this on Friday while addressing complaints about displaced persons’ welfare.

“Through this arrangement, this agency has spent more than N160m on healthcare interventions between March and September for snake bites alone,” he said.

Iorpuu explained that the agency arranged treatment at Benue University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, following inadequate support from humanitarian organisations.

He maintained that SEMA continued providing food, healthcare and essential supplies despite dwindling resources.

However, leaders of the Agagbe, Daudu and Mega IDP camps complained about irregular food distribution, inadequate shelter, poor sanitation and limited medical services.

They alleged that displaced persons were considering protests over prolonged shortages of relief materials.

Meanwhile, Iorpuu said SEMA was collaborating with humanitarian partners, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, on resettlement programmes for displaced families.