107, 130 children sacked from six LGAs of Benue by armed herdsmen in 2021

 

Indications have emerged that over 107,130 children have been sacked from Benue communities by armed herders in the year 2021 alone.

The children are currently taking refuge in various Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps and IDPs host communities located in six Local Government Areas, LGAs, of the state.

According to official records obtained from the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, in Makurdi, the children were classified into two categories including those that fall within the ages of zero to five years and those of six to 17 years.

The records indicated that a total of 42,885 of the children fall within the ages of zero to five years while the figure of those between the ages of five to 17 years stood at 64,245.

A further breakdown of the records indicated that Uikpam camp, Yogbo, Udei, Ortese Umenger and Yelwata communities in Guma LGA of the state are home to 49,751 of the children.

Naka, Aondoana and Tyoughtee communities in Gwer West LGA are playing host to 24,293 of the children while a total of 10,031 of the children are taking refuge in Atson and Anter communities in Makurdi LGA.

Also, Tse Agure and Tse Akau Akpor communities in Logo LGA have a total of 4,434 displaced children while communities like Okokolo, Obagaji, Aila, Odugbeho and Oweto is playing host to a total of 16,811 of the children sacked from their homes by the armed herdsmen.