Tragedy has struck an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Benue State after a 14-year-old boy, Chagu Terhemen, died from a snake bite.
Diaspora Digital Media gathered that the incident occurred last Friday while Terhemen was accompanying his father to their farm at Tse Kyomke Mbapupuu in Gaambe Ushin Council Ward, Gwer West Local Government Area.
According to eyewitnesses, the boy was bitten by a snake during the farm visit.
Despite receiving traditional treatment, his condition worsened as he began to convulse.
By Sunday, concerns had grown, and on Monday, the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), James Iorpuu, ordered that Terhemen be taken to Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Makurdi.
Sadly, despite efforts by medical personnel, he died on September 1, 2025.
One of the displaced persons, Terna Ibaah, confirmed the sad development, stressing that Terhemen’s case reflected the worsening health risks faced by IDPs in the region.
He revealed that since January, at least 12 cases of snake bites have been recorded in the Agagbe camps.
However, this was the first fatality this year.
“From January until now, we have recorded 12 victims of snake bites among IDPs in Agagbe. Fortunately, no deaths had been reported until now,” Ibaah said.
He further accused the camp management of neglect, noting that congestion has forced some registered IDPs to live with host communities, where health services are limited.
Confirming the situation, the Information Officer of Benue SEMA, Tema Ager, said the agency maintains a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BSUTH to provide urgent medical attention to IDPs.
She explained that registered displaced persons should have direct access to the hospital whenever health emergencies arise.
The death of young Terhemen highlights the fragile conditions in Nigeria’s IDP camps, where overcrowding, poor sanitation, and limited healthcare resources continue to endanger lives.
In rural parts of Benue, where snakes are common around farmlands and bushes, displaced children remain especially vulnerable.
Humanitarian groups have repeatedly warned about the dangers facing displaced populations in Nigeria, calling for improved medical access and better camp management.
The latest incident is expected to increase pressure on both the state government and aid agencies to respond more effectively.
As the IDP community mourns the loss of Terhemen, residents fear more lives could be lost if urgent steps are not taken to address the recurring problem of snake bites in the camps.
