The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, initiated the construction of cluster settlements for internally displaced persons in Benue State on Thursday, November 9, 2023. Dr. Edu, who arrived in the state on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, for a two-day visit, unveiled the development at Mbagwen in Makurdi Local Government Area.
During the unveiling, Dr. Edu conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to resettling the displaced persons, highlighting the president’s concern for their well-being.
“President Tinubu had promised to work with Governor Hyacinth Alia to return the people home, and today marks the beginning of fulfilling that promise,” she stated.
“It is time for Benue people who have cried for too long to enjoy. This is the beginning of a journey to return home,” she added.
In his speech, Governor Hyacinth Alia commended President Tinubu for honouring the commitment to bring the people back to their ancestral homes. He urged patience from the residents, acknowledging the persistent attacks since 2010 and heightened occurrences in 2016.
Benue State currently shelters over 1.5 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in various camps. These individuals were forced from their ancestral homes by armed herdsmen and militias and have endured challenging conditions outside their communities.
