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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sir James Iorpuu, has disclosed that only six out of the 23 local government areas in Benue State are free from herdsmen attacks in the state.
Iorpuu listed Ogbadibo, Ohimini, Konshisha, Gboko, Ushongo and one other as councils not affected by herdsmen attacks.
Iorpuu, executive secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), acknowledged that the number of IDP has increased after the attacks in Naka, Gwer West in May 2024, and Yelewata in Guma LGAs. He said the state government was still carrying out Biometric registration of IDP to ascertain the current figure.
He, however, noted that at the last count, Benue has 618,000 displaced persons living in the IDPs camps .
On the flooding, SEMA boss said only the dredging of Rivers Benue and Niger, by the Federal Government would address the persistent flooding and displacement of residents.
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He explained that the just concluded Conference of State Emergency Management Agencies in Lagos, had widened the horizons of emergency managers across the state on how to go about issues as it occurs.
Dr Iorpuu also dismissed claims from an independent assessor that Benue State under the leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia was low in performance in office.
While wondering what parameters the assessor used, Iorpuu said evidence abound that Governor Alia has delivered dividends of democracy to his people.
“For the Governor to have not borrowed money from any financial institution since assumption of office is a clear indication of purposeful leadership and accountability.
“The person must be dreaming while carrying out such an assessment. Since the creation of Benue State, Fr Hyacinth Alia has been a special gift to the state. For the first time, we are seeing an underpass in Makurdi, we are having industries springing up and for over 24 years, parents are withdrawing their children from private schools to public schools.
“Maybe, the person is rating performance based on sharing of public funds. If it’s on sharing of government funds, the governor has failed but if it’s on performance, Governor Alia has done well and is still doing well.”
