FILE: National President of ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osode
ASUU Urges President Bola Tinubu to Address Humanitarian Crisis in Benue IDP Camps
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued an urgent plea to President Bola Tinubu to swiftly address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps of Benue State. The camps have been witnessing a surge in out-of-school children and a distressing rise in teenage pregnancies due to the relentless attacks by gunmen.
Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, the President of ASUU, made this impassioned appeal during the union’s humanitarian outreach at the Abagana camp in Makurdi, the state capital. He expressed cautious optimism that the Federal Government would step up its efforts, acknowledging the current hardships faced by Nigerians.
Represented by Professors Ralph Ofokwu and Stellamarris Okey, ASUU’s leadership conveyed their deep concern about the safety of the IDPs, who are unable to return to their villages and homes now under the occupation of armed herdsmen. In a gesture of support, ASUU officials distributed essential food and clothing items to the displaced persons.
Officials from the state’s emergency management agency assured ASUU of their commitment to transparently distribute the relief items among the IDPs. However, the leaders of the displaced persons emphasized their strong desire to return home, contingent upon the provision of adequate security to remove armed herdsmen from their lands.
The backdrop of this crisis dates back to January 2018 when IDPs across 12 camps in Benue were forced to flee their homes following attacks by killer herdsmen in areas including the Logo and Guma local government districts, as well as other parts of the state.
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