Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom says he has spent the sum of N680 million treating victims of snakebite in the State, in the last 22 years.
This is contained in the checks conducted by the State Ministry of Health and Human Services.
The Governor, who has personally maintained a retainership with Bishop Murray Hospital Makurdi for the free treatment of snakebites since the year 2000, disclosed this on Tuesday, during a meeting with MINDA PDP Elders Forum.
The MINDA consists of people from Masev, Ihyarev and Nongov Development Association and comprises of Guma, Makurdi, Gwer-East and Gwer-West.
The Governor, however, disclosed that owing to the increasing costs this has placed on him, he had sought the approval of the Benue State executive council for the State government takes over the scheme since it had overwhelmed him financially.
The Governor while recounting the destruction caused by the invasion of three, out of the four local governments of MINDA, namely Guma, Makurdi and Gwer West by activities of militia herdsmen, lamented that thousands have been displaced and many others killed.
He, however, expressed optimism that despite the challenging times, his administration had executed and was still executing projects in parts of MINDA, including roads, saying that such efforts will be sustained.
