A 14-year-old internally displaced boy, Chagu Terhemen, has died after being bitten by a snake in Benue State.
The incident occurred last Friday while Terhemen was accompanying his father to their farm in Tse Kyomke Mbapupuu, Gaambe Ushin Council Ward, Gwer West Local Government Area.
According to Punch, Terna Ibaah, a displaced person and camp chairman, raised the alarm on Sunday, explaining that the boy initially refused traditional treatment and began convulsing.
Ibaah confirmed that on Monday, following directives from James Iorpuu, Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Terhemen was rushed to Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi for medical attention.
“Benue State SEMA boss, Mr. James Iorpuu, ordered that the boy, who was bitten by a snake, be taken to Benue State University Teaching Hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, he passed away last night, September 1, 2025, at the hospital,” Ibaah stated.
He further noted that snake bites have become a recurring issue among displaced persons in the Agagbe camps this year.
“From January until now, we have recorded 12 cases of snake bites among IDPs in Agagbe. Fortunately, no deaths had been reported until now,” he added.
On August 31, Ibaah accused camp management of neglect, highlighting that some registered IDPs are forced to live with host communities due to overcrowding in the camps.
