6 months after Ripples Nigeria story, records of child marriages drop in Benue IDP camps - Ripples Nigeria
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6 months after Ripples Nigeria story, records of child marriages drop in Benue IDP camps

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6 months after Ripples story, records of child marriages drop in Benue IDP camps

In September 2018, Ripples Nigeria carried out an investigation on reported cases of child marriage and human trafficking across the seven Internally Displaced Peoples camp (IDP) camps in Benue State.

The camps were set up on January 1, 2018, after suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded Benue communities, razed homes and killed more than 100 people. The victims were buried in a mass grave and subsequent killings followed afterwards. No arrests were made.

In the wake of the attacks, several camps were set up across different local government areas in the state – Logo, Guma, Gbajimba, Abagana, Daudu 1 and 2 – which housed thousands of displaced villagers.

According to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), over 300,000 people were displaced. Current data shows an increase of IDPs following new births and inflow of more victims. A recent head count by SEMA captures over 400,000.

When Ripples Nigeria visited the camps again, there were no cases of child marriages or reports of human trafficking as was formally recorded. At Agan camp where three cases were recorded last year during the investigation, the temporary camp has been vacated by the IDPs due to school’s resumption which they had occupied when they were displaced. They have now moved and are staying at Daudu camps.

Oliver Ijir says child marriages have stopped in the IDP camps. Photo by Patrick Egwu.

“It has stopped, said Oliver Ijir, an official of SEMA in Abagana camp. “We recorded some cases last year but now, there are no more reports of that happening. And as for this camp that I am in charge, it is not happening anymore. You can move around and ask them if you are in doubt,” Ijir said making reference to child marriage in the camps.

A leader at Daudu 1 camp, Friday Shaku corroborated Ijir’s claims on the issue of child marriages and human trafficking in the IDP camps.

“We have not witnessed any other case for a long while now. I won’t deny it didn’t happen but it has stopped.

“From September last year after the crises, when people were displaced and had stayed in the camps for over seven months, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) released $4 million called the ‘The Nigeria Humanitarian Fund’ to UN partners in Nigeria like UNICEF, UNHCR, UNHP, WHO and IOM for humanitarian responses and that covered Benue victims,” said Helen Teghtegh, executive director, Community Links Empowerment Initiative who works in the camps and records cases of child marriages.

Read also: IDP camp in Maiduguri boils over lack of food

“So they brought in interventions in the area of feeding, health, education and wash. So that brought a lot of cushioning in the camp for the past five months. I am sure that is one of the reasons we had incidents of child marriage because most women gave out their children because they could not cater for them anymore and because the responsibility of feeding their children was lifted off their shoulders,” she said.

However, the cases of child marriage may soon return to the camps. This month, the funding will end for Benue state but will continue in the north east.

‘’The funding will stop because it was just for six months and once the funding ends, Benue is not eligible for the fund again because Benue has not being properly captured under the framework for humanitarian responses under the UN. The reason is that it is a procedure and only the north east will enjoy that funding now.

“The IDPs have not returned to their homes and killings are still going on. Just four days ago the military operation engaged in a fierce combat with the herdsmen. They were shooting at each other. And these are the people that said the victims are returning. So we are getting ready for another humanitarian crisis,” she lamented.

Every day life in the IDP camps. Photo by Patrick Egwu

 

Agan camp where three cases of child marriage were recorded last year has been vacated by the IDPs due to school resumption. Photo by Patrick Egwu.

By Patrick Egwu…

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