A teenager simply identified as Chagu Terhemen, who was taking refuge with his parents at the Agagbe Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camp in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, has died of snake bite.

The deceased, who was displaced from his village, Tse Abian in Sengev Council Ward of Gwer West LGA, was said to be going to the farm last Friday with his father, Kyomke Mbapupuu, in Gaambe Ushin Council Ward when he suffered the attack.

Raising an alarm over the situation, a fellow IDP, Terna Ibaah, said that the boy’s parents had resorted to traditional treatment but there was no improvement in his condition which deteriorated Sunday afternoon.

“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 said.

Reacting, the Information Officer of Benue State Emergency Management Agency, BSEMA, Tema Ager, revealed that the agency had a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, Makurdi where the victim could be taken for treatment.

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

He told journalists that the victim was evacuated to the BSUTH on the orders of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management/State Emergency Management Agency, James Iorpuu on Monday, for treatment.

Benue: Teenager dies from snake bite in IDP camp