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A disturbing wave of allegations has hit the NKST Naka Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, where camp officials are accused of demanding ₦2,000 from vulnerable residents before enrolling them in ongoing data capture for relief and financial aid. The claims, raised by concerned citizen and ad-hoc social worker Akem Teryila Peter, have triggered public outrage and urgent calls for investigation.
According to Peter, the extortion targets some of the most defenseless members of the camp—elderly men and women with no income or support. What was intended as a free humanitarian registration process has, he alleges, been hijacked into a profit-making scheme. “This is not just unethical; it’s inhumane,” Peter said. “We often blame the government for corruption, yet some among us are worsening the suffering of the poor through greed.”
The situation reportedly escalated after complaints reached higher authorities. Some camp staff allegedly began intimidating residents late at night, warning them against exposing the illegal activity. Peter recounted meeting a group of displaced women earlier today, visibly distraught and helpless, lamenting their inability to pay the fee and fearing exclusion from vital aid.
He has called on relevant authorities, humanitarian agencies, and oversight bodies to launch an immediate and thorough probe into the allegations, ensure accountability, and restore trust among the displaced population. Peter emphasized that while attached photos do not depict the current camp conditions, they serve as a stark visual reminder of the ongoing plight of IDPs in Naka—many of whom have endured years of displacement due to herder-farmer conflicts.
The Naka IDP Camp, one of several in Benue housing thousands fleeing violence, relies heavily on government and donor support for survival. Any breach in the distribution or registration process not only undermines relief efforts but deepens despair among people already living on the edge.
As voices grow louder for transparency and justice, all eyes are on camp management and state authorities to respond swiftly. Will this scandal prompt stronger oversight in IDP operations, or will it become another unresolved grievance in Nigeria’s long chain of humanitarian challenges?
BENUE info-pedia continues to monitor developments and urges anyone with evidence or firsthand accounts to come forward safely. The dignity of the displaced must not be traded for profit.
