Benue IDPs Suffered Severe Snake Bites this Year
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Agagbe camps in the Gwer West Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State have reportedly endured snake bites between January and August 2025.
Jacob Ibaah, an IDP from a camp in Agagbe, informed reporters on Sunday that not fewer than 12 IDPs have suffered snake bites in the past eight months.
According to him, the most recent victim was 14-year-old Chagu Terhemen, who was bitten by a snake last Friday, August 29, 2025, and has been without medical treatment.
Ibaah stated, “A snake has bitten Master Chagu Terhemen, 14 years old, who was displaced from his village Tse Abian in Sengev Council Ward of Gwer West LGA.”
“The 14-year-old boy was on his way to the farm with his father, Tse Kyomke Mbapupuu, in Gaambe Ushin Council Ward when he was bitten by a snake.”
He added that they had applied traditional remedies, but they seemed ineffective, as the victim began convulsing by Sunday afternoon.
He expressed concern about the potential loss of the young man, prompting him to raise an alarm. He noted that medical personnel only visit the IDP camps from Monday to Thursday.
When questioned about the frequency of snake bites among IDPs in the Agagbe community, Ibaah said, “From January this year until now, we have recorded 12 victims of snake bites among the IDPs in Agagbe; fortunately, no one has died.”
Ibaah, who is also a displaced person, mentioned that most snake bite victims were treated with traditional medicine and alleged that the victims are often neglected by government officials.
“The camp manager stated that they could not treat him because he is not residing in the camp, but he knows that due to congestion in the camps, some registered IDPs stay with host communities. The victim’s registration number is 81XO1649,” Ibaah explained.
Ibaah mentioned that there are five locations where IDPs are camped in Agagbe, namely RCM Primary School, Sisters Convent, Saint Francis Secondary School, Old Police Station, and Adzequa Store, all of which are overcrowded.
Upon contact, the Information Officer of SEMA, Tema Ager, stated that the agency has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, where they could transport the patient for treatment.
Ager said, “SEMA has an MOU with the State University Teaching Hospital, allowing them to transport the patient for treatment.”
The Information Officer, however, asserted that as long as the victim is a registered IDP, he should be permitted to receive treatment at the Teaching Hospital.
