The Benue State government has commenced the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs), with 3,698 individuals returning to their ancestral homes over the weekend.
The displaced persons, who have lived in various camps across the state for periods ranging from three to twelve years due to armed conflicts, are part of the government’s broader effort to restore peace and security in the state.
Under the leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia, the first phase of the resettlement process has begun, with 1,114 households from Baka camp in North Bank being relocated to temporary homes constructed along the Makurdi-Gbajimba road.
The Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Aondowase Kunde, who coordinated the exercise alongside the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and other stakeholders, confirmed that the first batch of IDPs has been successfully relocated.
He emphasised the governor’s commitment to ensuring that the displaced persons return to their ancestral homes.
In collaboration with the IOM, the state government has constructed temporary shelters for the IDPs, to provide a safe transition until their permanent return to their original communities.
Kunde noted that the government’s goal is to keep the displaced persons in these temporary homes for no longer than a year, with plans already in place to launch the next phase of returns in the coming month.
