Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Agagbe camps in Gwer West Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State are said to have suffered snakes bite between January and August 2025.

An IDP from a camp in Agagbe, Jacob Ibaah, who spoke to newsmen on Sunday, said not fewer than twelve IDPs have suffered snake bites in the last eight months.

According to him, the latest victim was a 14-year-old Chagu Terhemen who was bitten by a snake last Friday, August 29, 2025, and has been without medical treatment.

Ibaah said, “Snake has bitten Master Chagu Terhemen, 14yrs, who was displaced from his village of Tse Abian in Sengev Council Ward of Gwer West LGA.

“The 14-year-old boy was going 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 treatment but it seem not to be working as the victim as of Sunday afternoon, started convulsing.

He added that the fear of losing the young man has made him to raise an alarm. He said the medical personnel only visit the IDP camps between Monday and Thursday.

When asked if there had been frequent snake bite of IDPs in Agagbe Community, Ibaah said; “From January this year till now, we have recorded 12 victims of snake bite in Agagbe among the IDPs; fortunately, no one has died.

Ibaah, who is also a displaced person, stated that most of the victims of snake bite were being treated with traditional medicine and that they are usually neglected by government officials.

“The camp manager said that they cannot treat him because he is not staying in the camp, but he knows that due to congestion in the camps, some of the registered IDPs stay with host communities. The victim registration number is 81XO1649,” Ibaah said.

Ibaah stated that there are five places where IDPs are camped in Agabe, namely; RCM Primary School, Sisters Convent, Saint Francis Secondary School, Old police station, and Adzequa store, all in Agagbe, and added that they were all congested.

When contacted, the Information Officer of SEMA, Tema Ager, said that the agency had a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, where they could rush the patient for treatment.

Ager said, “But SEMA has an MOU with the State University Teaching Hospital where they can rush the patient for treatment.”

The Information Officer however said that as long as the victim is a registered IDP, he should be allowed to be taken for treatment at the Teaching Hospital. (The Sun)

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