Friday Olokor, Jos
No fewer than four persons are feared dead in the internally displaced persons’ camps in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos South Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
The camps were established following the recent killing of over 200 persons by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
According to the President, Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives, Dr. Aboi Madaki, there are about 144,164 IDPs in 10 camps with 133,000 spread in the three LGAs, while other LGAs affected by the recent killings have 11,164 persons.
The first death was said to have been recorded in Riyom Mini Depot IDPs camp where nearly 6,000 persons have reportedly been battling with poor sanitary condition.
While the deceased reportedly died in the camp after having a prolonged battle with an unknown illness, two other persons on a motorcycle were said to have died in the camp on Monday after having a head-on collision with another motorcycle.
They were said to be on a mission looking for money to buy food for their wives and children when the incident happened.
Also, sources in the camp revealed that on Monday, an old woman reportedly died at an IDPs camp in Ban, Heipang in Barkin Ladi LGA after a surveillance helicopter flew over the camp.
The octogenarian, who was said to have collapsed and died on hearing the sound of a hovering helicopter, was believed to be hypertensive.
The Plateau State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Bulus Bot, told our correspondent that the state’s deputy governor, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, had ordered that immediate action be taken to improve on the amenities in the camp.
He said, “I heard of it (the death) too but I have not confirmed it. At the IDP camp at Barkin Ladi, where we have almost 1,000 persons, a woman from Mangu LGA died. I also learnt there were three IDPs who died. The reason being adduced is diarrhoea and other diseases, but the government is concerned about it.”
The Chairman, Public Accounts and Petition Committee in the state House of Assembly, who represents Barkin Ladi constituency in the House, Peter Gyendeng, said even though he wasn’t aware yet, it might not be impossible, given the living condition in the camp.
“There’s possibility of disease outbreak because of their living condition,” he added.
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