The Benue state Emergency Management Agency SEMA Friday disclosed that over 80 births had been recorded across the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state in six months.
Briefing newsmen during the monthly distribution of food items to the IDPs, the executive secretary of SEMA, Emmanuel Shior, said “since sex is normal among married men and women, it has been difficult to control the rate of birth at IDPs camps.”
He said the number of children born in the camps and fresh attacks on communities by herdsmen had contributed greatly to the increase in the number of people displaced across the state.
He, however, said the agency had given strong warnings and would not tolerate sexual activities by unmarried people at the camps.
On the news on social media alleging distribution of food items to IDPs by the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, Shior said he was not aware of any items distributed by the minister to IDPs.
“The State Emergency agency has never received any relief materials from our elder, the minister, recently. We just had a meeting with an organisation that if any items are to be given to IDPs they should come through SEMA; that is the standard.
“This is because SEMA is the agency that gives reports on the IDPs and if we are giving reports and have no record of your contribution, how can we include it,” he said.
Shior disclosed further that food items including beans, rice, garri, and noodles were distributed across IDPs camps in the state and to the Cameroonian refugees in Kwande.
