A 14-year-old boy has been left in critical condition after a snake bite at one of the Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camps in Agagbe, Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.
The teenager, identified as Chagu Terhemen, was reportedly on his way to the farm with his father, Tse Kyomke Mbapupuu, last Friday in Gaambe Ushin Council Ward when the snake struck.
According to fellow displaced person Terna Ibaah, who spoke with Punch newspaper on Sunday, shared that traditional remedies were immediately applied but the boy’s health started deteriorating, indicated the treatment was not working.
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“The 14-year-old boy was going to the farm with his father, Tse Kyomke Mbapupuu, in Gaambe Ushin Council Ward when he was bitten by a snake,” Ibaah said.
He explained that medical teams usually visit the camps between Monday and Thursday, leaving victims who suffer emergencies outside those days without immediate medical care.
Ibaah further disclosed that snake bites have become a recurring threat in the Agagbe camps.
“From January this year till now, we have recorded 12 victims of snake bites in Agagbe among the IDPs. Fortunately, no one has died,” he said.
The situation, however, has been complicated by bureaucratic challenges. Ibaah alleged that the camp manager refused to facilitate treatment for Terhemen, claiming that he was not residing inside the camp despite being a registered IDP.
“The camp manager said that they cannot treat him because he is not staying in the camp, but he knows that due to congestion in the camps, some of the registered IDPs stay with the host community. The victim registration number is 81XO1649,” he lamented.
The Agagbe settlement hosts displaced persons across five locations, RCM Primary School, Sisters Convent, Saint Francis Secondary School, the old police station and Adzequa store, all of which are said to be overcrowded.
Responding to enquiries, the Information Officer of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Tema Ager, confirmed that the agency has a standing arrangement with the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, for emergencies.
“But SEMA has an MOU with the State University Teaching Hospital, where they can rush the patient for treatment,” Ager stated.
