The Benue State Government (BNSG), in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has relocated Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from three camps in Makurdi, including NEPA Quarters, to a newly established dignity camp at the Mbayongu community. This move, conducted on Thursday, October 31, 2024, aims to provide the IDPs with a more secure and supportive environment while more durable solutions are developed.

The relocation exercise was led by the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), Sir James Iorpuu, ANI, FECDRMI, FCDAI, and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, along with other emergency and humanitarian partners. To support the move, buses and trucks transported the IDPs, totaling around 835 individuals across 171 households, along with their belongings, to the new mega camp.

The Mbayongu camp is equipped with essential amenities funded by BNSG and IOM, including clinics, water and sanitation (WASH) facilities, emergency schools, and security measures to ensure safety and maintain dignity. The initiative was praised by Alexander Tsaga, representing the Commissioner of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon. Aondowase Kunde, who emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining minimum standards of living and enhancing access to essential resources for the displaced population.

According to Tema Ager, the BSEMA Information Officer, the new facilities are intended to temporarily shelter the IDPs while the government, in collaboration with federal and international partners, seeks durable solutions. The effort underscores a humanitarian mission aimed at safeguarding lives, reducing suffering, and restoring human dignity in the wake of displacement and crisis