Snake bite victims in Benue IDP camp hits 12 as teenager battles for his life

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Since the start of 2025, at least 12 internally displaced people, or IDPs, at the Agagbe camp in Benue State’s Gwer West Local Government Area have reportedly been bitten by snakes.

In the most recent instance, 14-year-old Chagu Terhemen is having difficulty getting the right medical attention after being bitten by a snake last Friday.

Terna Ibaah, another IDP, expressed concern about the Sunday tragedy and clarified that the boy needs immediate medical attention.

Ibaah stated, “snake has bitten 14 years old Chagu Terhemen who was displaced from his village, Tse Abian in Sengev Council Ward of Gwer West LGA. The boy was going to the farm with his father, Kyomke mbapupuu in Gaambe Ushin Council Ward when he was bitten by snake.”

According to him, the boy’s condition deteriorated by Sunday afternoon after his parents first tried conventional treatments.

“We are afraid of losing the boy that is why we are raising the alarm because medical personnel only visit the camps between Monday and Thursday,” he added.

Emphasizing the problem’s recurrence, Ibaah disclosed, “from January this year till now, we have recorded 12 victims in Agagbe among the IDPs, fortunately no one has died.”

He claimed that due to insufficient government reaction, the majority of cases are handled locally.

“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 in the host community. The victim’s registration number is 81XO1649,” Ibaah said.

He claims that RCM Primary School, Sisters Convent, Saint Francis Secondary School, Old Police Station, and Adzequa Store are the five main IDP settlements in Agagbe. He emphasized that many displaced people have been compelled to settle in nearby areas due to overpopulation.

Upon being contacted, Tema Ager, the Information Officer for the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), clarified that a current agreement with the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, exists to treat internally displaced people who have been bitten by snakes.

“If the victim is a registered IDP, he should be allowed to be taking for treatment at BSUTH. Benue SEMA has an MOU with the hospital where he can be taken for treatment immediately,” he said.

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