Benue government on Saturday distributed relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

It distributed 18,714 different types of relief materials for September.

Items distributed were 5,118 bags of 25kg rice, 3,580 bags of 25kg beans, 2,050 bags of garri, 4,010 cartons of noodles and 321 gallons of 25 litres of groundnut oil.

Others were 180 gallons of 20-litre palm oil, 414 bags of seasoning cubes, 359 bags of salt and 254 bags of sugar.

Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Aondowase Kunde, and the executive secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), James Iorpuu, jointly performed the ceremony in Makurdi.

Mr Kunde said Governor Hyacinth Alia directed that the materials must reach orphanages and rehabilitation homes in the state.

He added that it was the first time relief materials reached Mama Abayol Orphanage Home, the Rehabilitation Centre at Apir, and the School of Special Needs in Aliade, Gwer Local Government Area.

Mr Kunde said it was also the first time relief materials reached Vandeikya Local Government Area and host communities of refugees in the Kwande Local Government Area of the state.

He assured that Benue would ensure that displaced persons returned home in the shortest possible time.

In his remarks, Mr Iorpuu said SEMA received reports that some IDPs sold part of the food items given to them in August to enable them to buy detergents and other things.

He added that having identified additional needs of the IDPs, 914 cartons of soap and 872 cartons of detergents were included in the September relief materials.

Mr Iorpuu said SEMA also included 600 mattresses as part of relief items distributed in September because it was found that most of the IDPs did not have beds.

(NAN)