By Amos Aar
INTERNALLY Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Yelwata Community, Guma LGA of Benue State have expressed disappointment over the failure of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to visit them at their camp during her condolence visit to the state on Tuesday.
The IDPs, who are currently taking refuge at the Makurdi International Market temporary camp, said they would have felt more comforted had the First Lady taken the time to personally visit and interact with them.
“She came because of us. So, as common people, we would have felt happy to see her for the first time in our lives because some of us have not seen her before,” one of the displaced persons, who requested anonymity, spoke to this reporter in Tiv language during a visit on Tuesday.
Senator Tinubu, who was received at the Makurdi Airport by Governor Hyacinth Alia, was driven straight to the Benue State Government House, Makurdi, where she held a meeting with stakeholders and made a donation of ₦1 billion in support of the displaced victims. She also called for an immediate end to insecurity and urged the people to unite in the face of persistent attacks.
The Makurdi International Market camp is located within the heart of the state capital less than 10 kilometres from the Government House, but neither Mrs. Tinubu nor the Benue State Government included the facility in her itinerary before returning to Abuja later on Tuesday.
During her address at the Government House, the First Lady decried the continuous killings and displacement of citizens, noting that her visit was aimed at showing solidarity with the victims and encouraging peace-building efforts. She also presented relief materials and pledged sustained support, particularly for women, children, and persons with disabilities.
Also speaking at the event, the Tor Tiv and Chairman of the Benue State Council of Chiefs, Professor James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, amongst other things, urged the Federal Government to take decisive action against terror groups reportedly operating in Benue and Nasarawa states. He stressed the need for reconstruction of destroyed communities and adequate compensation for victims.
Governor Alia, in his remarks, reiterated his call for the establishment of state police and the implementation of a national policy on ranching to address herders-related insecurity.
He commended Senator Tinubu for what he described as a strong message of national solidarity and her support to the over 1.5 million displaced people currently living in camps across Benue.
