A 14-year-old Internally Displaced Person (IDP), Chagu Terhemen, has died after suffering a snake bite while on his way to the farm with his father in Tse Kyomke Mbapupuu, Gaambe Ushin Council Ward, Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.
The incident occurred on Friday, and despite traditional treatment efforts, Terhemen’s condition worsened as he began convulsing, according to fellow displaced resident, Terna Ibaah.
On Monday, following the intervention of the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), James Iorpuu, the teenager was rushed to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi. Unfortunately, he passed away later that night, September 1.
Speaking on the broader challenge, Ibaah revealed that snake bites are a recurring danger within IDP camps in the state. Between January and August alone, about 12 victims had been recorded in Agagbe camp, though Terhemen’s death is the first fatality reported this year.
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The tragedy underscores the growing health risks faced by displaced persons in Benue, who continue to grapple with poor shelter, unsafe environments, and inadequate access to emergency medical care.
