Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State Monday cried out saying they are facing acute starvation in camp.
They called on the Federal Government and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to come to their aid.
It was reported that many communities in Agatu LGA have been sacked by armed invaders.
The latest in the series was Egwuma community where 12 people were killed and many flee their residents.
The displaced villagers said that they are severely hungry with their children as they have no access to food.
They also suggested the establishment of military base in their localities to enable them return to their homes.
A community leader whose family was affected, Engr lbrahim Yunusa said that the Federal Government should establish a military base at Ogumogbo community, a border town where herders always cross from Kogi and Nasarawa states to openly graze their cattle and attack neighbouring communities in the process to enable the displaced persons return home to continue with their farming and fishing activities.
Yunusa expressed concern that the situation had brought untold hardship to the people and called on government, public spirited individuals and Non Governmental Organisations to donate relief materials to cushion the hardship faced by the displaced people.
The head of Egwuma community, Ogiri Edeh lamented that his people have been wondering about without food since they were displaced and appealed to government for help.
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IDPs who spoke with our correspondent expressed very serious concerns.
Daheru lbrahim lamented that he has lost the breadwinner of his family in the attack and has no hope surviving while Sule Ochume expressed worry that his children were going hungry with malaria as a result of mosquito bites in the bush where they are taking refuge.
Sani Samuel who said he too had lost beloved ones added that the insecurity in the area cast doubt on their minds whether Agatu is still part of this country or not.
On his part, lbrahim Agbocheni stated that neighbouring communities including Ogumogbo Ejima, lkpele, Olegomachi, Akele and Warri had been sacked and if nothing is urgently done to secure the area, the situation would get beyond imaginable proportion as the road to the community is not motorable.
In separate comments, Pastors Ademu Adanu and John Ademu as well as a house wife, Grace Edeh described the situation as genocide and appealed to government at all levels to consider the plight of women and children in particular and provide succour to reduce their suffering.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of SEMA James Iorapuu said the agency would begin profiling the new IDPs in Agatu as from Tuesday.
Iorapuu had however maintained previously that SEMA during its monthly distribution of food items will do so equitably.
