Hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) residing at the Maga Camp in Mbayongo, on the outskirts of Makurdi, on Tuesday barricaded the Makurdi–Lafia highway in protest over worsening living conditions and lack of basic necessities.
The demonstrators, mostly women and children, carried tree branches and chanted slogans such as “We are hungry” and “We want to go back home,” calling for urgent government intervention. The protest occurred at the junction leading to the IDP camp, causing traffic disruptions on the busy inter-state highway.
Speaking during the protest, one of the displaced persons, Rebecca Awuse, lamented the poor welfare conditions in the camp.
“We want to go back home. We are hungry and tired of staying in the camp where no one is taking care of us,” she said.
The protest came barely 24 hours after the visit of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to the state. During the visit, she announced a N1 billion donation towards the resettlement and welfare of displaced families in Benue.
Reacting to the protest, the Information Officer of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), Mr. Tema Ager, dismissed claims of neglect, alleging that the demonstration was politically motivated.
“The IDPs are not being starved. The state government is providing food support to all registered camps,” Ager stated.
“We’ve observed that many IDPs leave their designated camps, such as Yelewata, to move to the International Market camp in Makurdi because it’s newer and they believe they can get more food there.”
Ager further clarified that the First Lady’s donation was intended for long-term resettlement efforts and not immediate food distribution.
“Some people misunderstood the purpose of the First Lady’s donation. It’s not meant for instant sharing. It is for structured resettlement plans,” he explained.
When asked about the last round of food distribution, Ager confirmed that food items were currently being distributed across the state, with the last major distribution carried out in May 2025.
The demonstration highlights the persistent humanitarian crisis in Benue State, where thousands remain displaced due to ongoing insecurity in rural communities. Despite repeated government assurances, calls for improved welfare, security, and durable solutions to displacement remain unresolved.
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