At least 12 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Agagbe camp, Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, have reportedly suffered snake bites since the beginning of 2025, raising serious concerns over the welfare and safety of displaced persons in the state.
The latest victim is 14-year-old Chagu Terhemen, who was bitten by a snake last Friday while on his way to the farm with his father in Gaambe Ushin Council Ward. Chagu, who hails from Tse Abian in Sengev Council Ward, is now struggling to access urgent medical attention.
Speaking on Sunday, a fellow IDP, Terna Ibaah, said the boy’s parents initially relied on traditional remedies, but his condition worsened by Sunday afternoon.
“We are afraid of losing the boy, that is why we are raising the alarm because medical personnel only visit the camps between Monday and Thursday,” Ibaah explained.
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He further revealed that snakebite incidents have become a recurring nightmare for displaced persons in Agagbe.
“From January this year till now, we have recorded 12 victims in Agagbe among the IDPs. Fortunately, no one has died,” he added.
Ibaah also accused the authorities of failing to adequately respond to emergencies in the camp, noting that many cases are managed through local treatments. According to him, the camp manager initially refused to assist the boy on the grounds that he was not staying inside the camp.
“The Camp Manager said that they cannot treat him because he is not staying in the camp, but he knows that due to congestion in the camps some of the registered IDPs stay in the host community. The victim’s registration number is 81XO1649,” he said.
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The Agagbe area hosts five major IDP settlements — RCM Primary School, Sisters Convent, Saint Francis Secondary School, Old Police Station, and Adzequa Store. Overcrowding in these sites has forced many displaced persons to live in surrounding communities, worsening their vulnerability.
When contacted, the Information Officer of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), Tema Ager, confirmed that there is an existing arrangement with the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, to treat snakebite victims among IDPs.
“If the victim is a registered IDP, he should be allowed to be taken for treatment at BSUTH. Benue SEMA has an MOU with the hospital where he can be treated immediately,” Ager assured.
Meanwhile, residents and IDPs in Agagbe are urging the state government and humanitarian agencies to improve medical response and provide urgent intervention to prevent further tragedies.