The refugees live in the open air in Makurdi.
The people in Benue State displaced by attacks on some villages and settlements, allegedly by Fulani herdsmen, are at risk of an epidemic due to unsafe water and congestion at their makeshift lodgings in Makurdi.
Many of the displaced persons currently live in the open air within the state capital. A privileged few have found refuge at public primary schools.
PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday visited some of the camps along Northbank and Highlevel streets and behind Mobile Police Barrack along Naka /Adoka road. Most of the refugees, including children and the aged, were seen drinking unclean water and sleeping in the open air without mosquito nets. They complained of insufficient food and lack of ventilation in the classrooms.
A heavy downpour on Sunday did not help matters as most of the refugees had their mattresses soaked and were forced to sleep out in the sun on Monday.
The make-shift camps have created congestion in Makurdi, particularly along the entrance into the state capital, Highlevel Street, and behind the Modern Market Road.
A medical staff at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, speaking under anonymity as he was not officially cleared to do so by his employers, said the displaced persons risked contracting cholera, typhoid fever, and pneumonia, which could result in an epidemic, if not properly handled.
He advised, "The state government has to act fast. These people need safe drinking water and a clean environment before the situation degenerates health-wise."
A victim of the unrest, Pius Gbende, told PREMIUM TIMES at the Northbank camp that he had lived in the open for five days without bathing because of the unavailability of water.
"We drink any kind of water that is available, not minding the source. Since it is not enough, we only drink to survive," Mr. Gbende said.
Some sachet water sellers have taken advantage of the situation by selling water at N20 Naira per sachet rather than the usual N10.
No police, no soldier
One of the refugees, Elizabeth Tor, a widow with four children, said she was displaced from Guma Local Government Area. According to Mrs. Tor, the 600 mobile police officers recently said to have been deployed to Benue State to control the unrest were yet to do their jobs.
"Their presence is not yet being felt because the Fulanis are still occupying our villages," she lamented.
Another victim, Fidelis Agune, in his late sixties, a husband of two with 14 children, narrated his ordeal.
"Up till now that I speak with you, there are no security operatives in our villages. The armed Fulani men are still ambushing anyone who goes back there to pick food items or property. Some people on Friday, including my eldest son got close to Gbajimba, our council headquarters, but could go no further. One was shot dead, and four others escaped by mere whiskers. No police or soldier was there," he lamented.
The Nigerian military has, however, announced a heavy deployment of soldiers to the state, as well as Plateau ad Nasarawa, on Monday.
Artificial inflation
In Gwer-West local government, the violence has affected economic activities, as residents in the area live in perpetual fear of impending attacks. Local vigilantes formed by youth in the area are being attacked and killed by gunmen, the residents alleged.
The insecurity in Gwer-West has warranted a temporary closure of the access road to the council secretariat, Naka, which is less than 45 minutes from Makurdi. The bad road also contributed to an increase in transport fare in the area.
Commuters passing through Naka now take an alternative route through Gwer-East local government. The route takes most motorists close to two and a half hours to Naka.
The unrest has also caused an increase in food prices and other household commodities.
Herdsmen/Farmers conflict: Displaced persons in Benue lament makeshift camps.
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