The ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), Plan International, Christian Aid and Start Network have raised the alarm over heightened insecurity that has led to the displacement of over 1.4m people in Benue State.
Country Director of AAN, Andrew Mamedu; Country Director Plan International, Charles Usie and others raised the alarm at a press conference in Makurdi, Benue State capital, on Friday.
They said that the attention of the international community should be drawn to the age-long crisis that has been underreported.
Mamedu, represented by the Action Aid Manager for Humanitarian Resilient, David Habba, said that the spate of insecurity in Benue is now worse than what is happening in the North East and the North West.
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“With what is happening in Benue State, people may not have villages to retire to when they grow old, there is also the loss of culture that comes with it. If we fail to act now, I am afraid that by 2030, we would have lost a generation and it may take up about 50 years to recover from it.”
“The toll of these conflicts on the lives and livelihoods of ordinary people cannot be overstated. Families have been torn apart, homes destroyed and futures shattered. The trauma and suffering endured by those affected are profound and long lasting, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable peace building and conflict resolution efforts,” he said.
While calling on the Humanitarian community to prioritise Benue State, recognising the pressing need of the people, he urged the government to address the underlying causes of these crisis and ensure peace in Benue.
Also, the representative of Country Director Plan International, Helen Idiong, who is the Director Program Quality and Influencing revealed that through funding from Start Fund Network they have provided support to displaced persons from Apa, Agathu, Kwande, logo and Ukum local government areas of Benue State.
She said in the last 45 days, 3,806 households comprising 26,179 people have received unconditional cash transfers of N50,000 or N60,000 while 3,506 households of 24,297 people received non-food items; 1,100 girls and women received dignity kits and 2,777 people received psychological first aid.
While commending the support received from Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue towards the 45 days rapid response, Idiong said their goal is to provide immediate and long term support to vulnerable persons affected by conflicts in the states, especially women and girls.
