Benue State has been plagued by recurring violent attacks, kidnappings, and killings, often attributed to armed herdsmen, leaving residents in a state of fear and insecurity.
By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
Tension erupted at the Ultra Modern International Market Makurdi temporary camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) when a humanitarian volunteer, Chef Victor Tartenger, was allegedly harassed at the gate.
However, the Benue Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon. Aondowase Kunde, dismissed the allegation, explaining that the camp gate was temporarily locked to prevent infiltration by non-IDPs.
“We’ve observed how some individuals infiltrate the camp to cause disorder. Some women are market traders who enter, collect relief materials meant for IDPs, and take them away,” Kunde said.
He added that the camp was taking measures to ensure only genuine IDPs benefit from relief materials.
Kunde revealed that Tartenger had quarreled with security personnel, and he had to intervene.
“I called him aside and told him to calm down. He had cooked for the IDPs yesterday, and I personally ushered him into the camp,” he said.
The CEO of Diet House Nutritional Products and Services Nigeria Ltd., Nguveren Benedicta Ukange, who co-led the cooking initiative with Chef Tartenger, confirmed that she was granted access to the camp without issue.
“We’ve planned to cook at the camp for 10 days, and nobody has stopped us,”* she said.
