Amnesty International has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take urgent action to avert a humanitarian disaster in Benue State, which is ravaged by armed herdsmen violence that has displaced over 500,000 people.
The human rights organisation drew attention to the deteriorating conditions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state, many of whom are confined in overcrowded and poorly maintained camps.
In a statement on Thursday, Amnesty International said, “The Nigerian authorities must take urgent steps to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in the central state of Benue where attacks by gunmen have displaced at least 500,000 people, many of whom are languishing in squalid camps without access to sufficient water, poor sanitation, food and healthcare.”;
The organisation condemned the government’s continued failure to protect communities in Benue, pointing to a pattern of neglect and slow response to repeated attacks by gunmen.
“The Nigerian authorities failed the people of Benue State again and again. Rampant attacks by gunmen have deprived thousands of people of their rights to life, physical integrity, liberty, freedom of movement and access to livelihoods.”;
Sources from displaced communities reveal harrowing experiences of displacement and ongoing suffering in IDP camps.
“Survivors of these harrowing attacks face the fresh torment of being displaced in overcrowded, unhygienic camps where disease runs rampant and essentials such as food and clean water are scarce,”; the group noted.
They described scenes of people fleeing violence, with many forced to carry what little they could salvage.
“Survivors were seen carrying bags of grain, bundles of firewood and other household items as they sought safety and shelter in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs).”;
Findings from interviews conducted in camps located in Gwer West, Agatu, Ukum, Kwande, Logo, Guma, and Makurdi, including a makeshift settlement at Makurdi Modern Market, indicate that many communities under attack receive no immediate support from security forces.
“According to interviews with IDPs in Gwer West, Agatu, Ukum, Kwande, Logo, Guma and Makurdi IDP camps, as well as a makeshift IDP camp at Makurdi Modern Market, communities who come under attack are often left to fend for themselves with security forces only arriving long after the gunmen had left.”;
Amnesty International has urged the Nigerian authorities to not only bolster security in the region but also to ensure the immediate provision of adequate humanitarian aid, clean water, shelter, and healthcare for the displaced population.
The organisation emphasised that without urgent action, the situation in Benue could spiral into a deeper crisis with devastating consequences.
