At least 16 individuals have been bitten by snakes across various Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Benue State, according to recent reports.
The incidents occurred over the past two weeks, spanning the end of August and the beginning of September.
Sir James Iorpuu, Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (Benue-SEMA), shared this update during a press briefing in Makurdi on Wednesday.
The briefing was held ahead of the monthly relief distribution for displaced persons in the state.
Iorpuu reported that, thanks to prompt medical intervention, none of the victims died.
“In recent months, Benue-SEMA has confronted the serious issue of snake bites among our IDP populations.
I am pleased to announce that we have successfully treated over 16 cases across various camps, thanks to the rapid response of our health teams and the support from our partners,” he said.
To address the problem, all IDP camps, including the Ikyogen refugee camp, have been fumigated.
Despite these efforts, Iorpuu highlighted the need for additional medical supplies and support.
“We still require more resources to prevent further incidents.
I urge both local and international partners to continue their support in this vital area,” he added.
The affected camps include Daudu 1 and 2 in Guma Local Government Area and Ichuwa at North Bank in Makurdi Local Government Area.
“We did not lose any lives due to the snake bites.
All victims were treated and discharged, although we incurred significant costs, with one case alone costing over ₦1 million,” Iorpuu noted.
