April 05, (THEWILL) – The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Most Rev. Wilfred Anagbe, has offered scholarships to one hundred and sixty-five children whose parents were killed by the marauding herdsmen to study in all Catholic Schools across the Diocese.
Bishop Anagbe, who made the disclosure during the celebration of his birthday at the Ortese Internally Displaced Persons camp (IDPs) in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, explained that he decided to celebrate his birthday with the displaced persons because he is one of them.
He lamented the sustained attacks on Benue communities by Fulani herders, saying schools, hospitals and Churches in these communities are all being destroyed.
“For me, celebrating with the downtrodden is not a new thing because I usually celebrate almost every Christmas with inmates at the prison to identify with them and give them a sense of belonging. This year, I chose to celebrate my 59th birthday, which comes up every 2nd of April, with the Ortese IDPs, which makes more sense to me because, the fact that the IDPs are happy seeing us, we will also share the little we brought with them,” he said.
Speaking during an interview, the camp chairman, Mr. Samuel Imbila, said twenty-five Internally Displaced Persons at Ortese camp have tested positive for Lassa Fever and Tuberculosis because of congestion and are undergoing treatment.
While calling for the construction of more tents to decongest the IDPs to nib in the bud the outbreak and spread of diseases, the camp chairman also noted that the absence of water for drinking and bathing in the camp for over three months is posing a great threat to the lives of the IDPs, especially children who are coming up with heat rashes all over their body.
Corroborating, the representative of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in the Camp, Mr. Mark Terver, said the IDPs are going through harshness in terms of acute water shortage for domestic use, adding that the IDPs, mostly women, trek between three to four kilometres in search of water.
“In the process of water search, many IDPs are being ambushed and raped by the marauding herdsmen,” he said.
In the course of the celebration, assorted food and non-food items brought by the Bishop were shared among the IDPs to cushion the effect of hardship being experienced.
Recall that the State Programme Manager, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, Dr. Terence Akighir, during the 2024 Tuberculosis Day celebration, informed that from 2023 to date, 7,273 persons across the State have been diagnosed with Tuberculosis, out of which 109 are drug resistant.
