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Two IDPs Hospitalised as Snakebites Surge Across Benue as SEMA Raises Alarm
The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has raised the alarm over increasing cases of snakebites across the state, warning that farmers, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable residents are increasingly at risk.
The warning followed two recent snakebite incidents involving a 35-year-old man, Isaac Shula, and a 19-year-old girl, Mbapuun Tyoshio, both residents of the Daudu 1 IDP camp in Guma Local Government Area.
The victims were reportedly bitten by snakes while working on their farms and subsequently referred to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, where they are receiving medical attention under the care of Benue SEMA.
The agency’s Health Focal Person, Dr Amos Dzungwe, said snakebite incidents had continued to rise across the state, affecting not only displaced persons but also farmers and other vulnerable groups.
Dzungwe disclosed that the agency had received several requests for medical intervention from different parts of the state, highlighting the growing scale of the problem.
He said two snakebite victims had been successfully discharged within the last two weeks, while others remained on admission and were undergoing treatment.
The health official warned that delays in seeking medical attention could expose victims to severe complications and worsen their chances of recovery.
He therefore urged residents to seek immediate medical attention at appropriate health facilities whenever snakebite incidents occur, rather than resorting to unsafe treatment methods or delaying professional care.
Meanwhile, Benue SEMA has called on the public to disregard what it described as misleading reports and politically motivated narratives surrounding snakebite incidents in the state, particularly those involving IDPs.
The agency stressed that health emergencies and the welfare of vulnerable residents should not be subjected to political manipulation.
It reaffirmed its commitment to providing prompt medical assistance to snakebite victims and other persons affected by emergencies across the state, irrespective of their location or social status.
