A 14-year-old internally displaced boy in Benue has died after a snake bite, raising concerns over safety and recurring snake attacks in IDP camps.
A wave of grief has hit an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Benue State following the death of Chagu Terhemen, a 14-year-old boy, who succumbed to complications from a snake bite.
The tragic incident took place on Friday, August 30, 2025, at Tse Kyomke Mbapupuu, Gaambe Ushin Council Ward in Gwer West Local Government Area, when Chagu had accompanied his father to their farmland.
While on the farm, he was bitten by a snake, setting off a desperate attempt to save his life.
Initially, family members and other displaced persons reportedly relied on traditional remedies in hopes of neutralizing the venom.
However, his condition quickly worsened, with eyewitnesses stating that he began convulsing after defying the local treatment.
Raising alarm over the matter, Terna Ibaah, chairman of the displaced persons in the camp, explained that the situation was brought to the attention of authorities on Sunday.
He said the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. James Iorpuu, promptly ordered that the boy be transferred to a medical facility.
Under Iorpuu’s directive, Chagu was rushed to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, where doctors battled to stabilize him.
Sadly, despite the intervention, the teenager passed away on the night of Monday, September 1, 2025.
Confirming the death, Ibaah expressed sadness that snake bites have become a recurring menace in the Agagbe IDP camps this year.
“From January until now, we have recorded 12 cases of snake bites among displaced persons in Agagbe. Thankfully, no life was lost until this incident,” he lamented.
Beyond the tragedy, Ibaah also drew attention to what he described as systemic neglect of displaced persons by camp management and relevant agencies.
According to him, overcrowding has worsened living conditions in the camps, forcing some registered IDPs to settle with host communities where they remain exposed to additional risks such as snake attacks, poor sanitation, and lack of health support.
He recalled that on August 31, barely a day before Chagu’s death, he had openly criticized the lack of proper attention given to IDPs, warning that preventable tragedies might occur if urgent measures were not taken.
The incident has reignited concerns over the safety, health care, and welfare of internally displaced persons in Benue State.
For years, thousands of residents of Gwer West and adjoining local government areas have been displaced from their ancestral homes due to violent herders–farmers clashes, leading to a humanitarian crisis in the state.
Stakeholders say the latest death is a stark reminder of the urgent need for improved medical facilities, better camp management, and stronger protection measures for displaced persons, especially vulnerable children.