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By Oboh Linus, Lafia
The Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency, (NASEMA) said the number of displaced persons taking shelter in Nasarawa state following the Yelwata killings has risen to 4, 253.
Barrister Benjamin Akwash, Director General of the Agency told newsmen in Lafia, the Nasarawa State Capital.
Akwash said the Nasarawa State Government is presently witnessing an increase in the number of camps and influx of IDPs due to the recent attack in Yelwata, a border town between Benue and Nasarawa states, which resulted in the death of 200 persons.
He, however, said the state government was committed to addressing the plight of the displaced persons currently taking shelter in the state by distributing relief materials to cushion their hardship.
He noted that another camp was created in Obi Local Government Area, which currently shelters 1,020 IDPs in addition to Idadu and Kpata camps in Doma LGA and Agyraragu camp in Lafia LGA respectively.
“The situation is that of an influx of internally displaced persons coming to Nasarawa state, and the number keeps increasing.
”As of yesterday, the figure at my disposal was 1800 at St John Agyraragu but now it is 1,852, Idadu and Kpata camps presently have 672 and 709.
“I got information again from Obi camp that 1020 IDPs have arrived there, Most of the people who relocated to the Kadarko camp have moved to other safer places because they feel Kadarko is no longer safe for them,” he said.
Akwash, however, clarified that most of the IDPs presently taking shelter in Nasarawa state were not completely from Yelwata, noting that some nearby communities also left their home because of the fear of attack.
According to him, the agency had assessed the situation in various camps to ascertain the number of displaced persons and to reach out to them with relief materials.
“We have put deliberate and robust measures in place, and we have held a series of meetings with the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Humanitarian Services.
“We are now at the point of procurement, in the coming few days we will be able to purchase food and non-food items to distribute to them to lessen the hardship they are going through.
“So, I’m urging them to remain calm as we make a frantic effort to bring succour to them without further delay,” he said.
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