Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue state has urged global actors to step up their interventions in the humanitarian crises confronting the state, with the intent to arrest the situation.
According to the Governor, the state government and its people have been threatened by insecurity occasioned by herdsmen attacks, kidnapping as well as activities of armed bandits.
Governor Alia who disclosed this when he played host to officials of the United States Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USBHA), at Government house, Makurdi, stressed that the physical attacks as well as natural disasters has taken a toll on the state.
He pointed out that the state government was working on ways at resettling displaced persons in the state, using the three Rs: Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Rebuilding, adding that the government was committed to fostering peaceful coexistence among all residents in the state.
Alia said, “Benue State has continued to experience intense conflicts and tensions as a result of farmers/herder clashes, (including) kidnapping, armed banditry which have disrupted the agrarian lives of our people.
“Insecurity is yielding a growing concern in our state. However, our administration is committed to finding lasting solutions to these disputes and fostering peaceful coexistence among all residents in the state.
“Towards this end, we decided to adopt the “three Rs: Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Rebuilding in the affected areas of the state. My administration is working assiduously to resettle the Internally Displaced Persons back to their ancestral homes”, he stated.
Quoting from the 2022 figures, he told his guests that there were over 1.5 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state, adding that this set of people do not have access to potable water and other necessities of life.
The Governor further appreciated officials of the United States Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and the International Organization for Migrants for taking interest and coming to the aid of Benue state.
He called on other development partners working in the state to support his administration by developing a comprehensive template to bring a lasting solution to the humanitarian crises in the State.
Earlier, in his remark, leader of delegation and Senior Humanitarian Advisor to USBHA, Patrick Robinson, said they were in the state to assess the humanitarian situation and to see areas they could assist in resolving the crisis.
He maintained that USBHA had been intervening in the humanitarian crisis in the North East since 2016, adding that the organization had also rendered tremendous assistance to the government of Borno State and currently intervening in the humanitarian crisis in the Northwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
The Advisor also appreciated Governor Alia for the warm reception accorded the delegation and assured him of the commitment of USBHA to address the challenges confronting the state in the area of humanity.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA), Sir James Iorpuu, said his office had put up a resettlement data plan that would be submitted to government for immediate action.
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