Henry Agber Documentary photographer

08/04/2023

Voices from the IDP Camp, during the one million interdenominational rally 21 may, 2022.
I am Msughve Tsavsaa, a one leg amputee as a result of the Fulani Herdsmen Crisis. On the evening of the day of the attack, I was with my two wives and six children, trying desperately to get them to safety. As I shouted for them to run, the herdsmen heard me and began firing at our home. One of the bullets hit me on the leg, and I had to drag myself into a nearby bush and play dead.
Fortunately, my family managed to escape and my son eventually returned with the security forces to check for survivors and my body. When I heard the siren and saw my son with them, I called out and they rushed me to the National Hospital, where I stayed for four months. Despite their best efforts, the wound refused to heal and the bone was broken, so I eventually asked them to amputate the leg so I could have some peace.
Right now, I am much better and no longer struggling as I did before. However, the major challenge that remains is that my family and I are currently living in the Gbajimba IDP camp and our children have been unable to return to school. My farm and home have been taken away from me by Fulani herdsmen, leaving me with nothing. I have survived these trying times only through the generosity and benevolence of kind individuals.
Many families have lost their means of livelihood by the herdsmen attack and life is tough for them. How can we make life better for them?

03/04/2023

My name is Wando Anakuha, and I have been tragically displaced by Fulani Herdsmen in Zongo. When we were eating, the herdsmen attacked, killing my mother and brother. My father was killed in the attack, and I ran and hid until a man selling goods in Zongo helped me out and brought me to the soldiers in Makurdi.

In Makurdi, I was crying and asking around for somewhere to stay, when I was told that displaced people were staying at Ichua. (TSE-YANDEV CAMP) When I arrived, the chairman comforted me and has been taking care of me with whatever he can provide. He also shares the word of God with me when I'm feeling down, and has enrolled me in a football team at the camp. Playing with my teammates helps me to forget my worries.

Unfortunately, I was in JSS 2 at UB Saint Maries before everything happened, but since I lost both my parents, I haven't been able to go back to school. I wish I had someone to sponsor me so I could continue my education.

The story of Wando is a heartbreaking one, and unfortunately is a sad reality of many other orphaned children whose dream has been cut shut due to displacement by the herdsmen. Calling on , , and to look into education for displaced children. Individual efforts can also make a huge difference.

02/04/2023

Images of TSE-YANDEV IDP CAMP, from a personal project titled "HOME AWAY FROM HOME".
Benue has been subjected to daily attacks and killings by herdsmen, resulting in displacement and increasing population of people living in IDP camps.
A recent publication by vanguard newspaper on 13th march 2023. Over 5,138 persons have lost their lives to armed herdsmen incursions in the state in the last seven years.
While the crisis in Nigeria's north-east has received much attention, Benue state's deteriorating humanitarian crisis as a result of cattle herders remains a major concern that is yet to receive adequate attention from the Federal government.
Last year April 2nd, 2022, I embarked on "Home Away from Home", to have a closer look at unseen lives and ignored voices of these individuals who have tragically become refugees in their own homeland.
Through my work, I seek to capture photos and videos that accurately portray the harsh realities of life in an IDP camp, across the areas of food, security, water, shelter, health, education, livelihoods, agriculture, and sanitation. I hope to tell the story of displacement, displacement-based trauma, and the resilience of the human spirit even in the face of adversity. By highlighting the struggles of those living in an IDP camp, I strive to evoke an emotional response in the viewer that will compel them to think deeply about our shared humanity and act with empathy, justice, and compassion. Further, it is my hope to inspire others to take action to help those in need, and to raise awareness of the plight of refugees.

01/04/2023

My name is Ayabo Hugh, Chairman of Ortese IDP Camp, where the living conditions are far from ideal. We started with 33,000 people, but now we are down to just 21,000.
The challenges we face here are numerous, but I will focus on the two biggest ones.
Firstly, shelter. As the rainy season is here, many of our people are praying for rain, as it is their only chance to farm. Unfortunately, due to the lack of shelter, when it looks like it will rain the women have to scramble for places to hide. This is why we believe that perhaps God is merciful and has delayed the rains.

The second challenge is water. We are extremely grateful to Medecins San Frontieres (MSF) for their help in providing water to the camp. Every time the water truck arrives, we can barely recognize the people due to the sheer size of the crowd queuing up for it.
These are just two of the many challenges that we face here on a daily basis. We are in desperate need of your help.

Image from a personal project HOME AWAY FROM HOME... check previous post for more details

01/04/2023

Images of ORTESE IDP CAMP, from a personal project titled "HOME AWAY FROM HOME".
Benue has been subjected to daily attacks and killings by herdsmen, resulting in displacement and increasing population of people living in IDP camps.
According to Vanguard news paper publication, on 1st April, 2022. ‘Benue is now home to 27 IDP camp with a population of close to two million. As disclosed by Benue State Emergency Management Agency Secretary Dr. Emmanuel Shior who said that the camps are composed of seven official and 20 unofficial camps scattered across the state.
While the crisis in Nigeria's north-east has received much attention, Benue state's deteriorating humanitarian crisis as a result of cattle herders remains a major concern that is yet to receive adequate attention from the Federal government.
Last year April 2nd, 2022, I embarked on "Home Away from Home", to have a closer look at unseen lives and ignored voices of these individuals who have tragically become refugees in their own homeland.
Through my work, I seek to capture photos and videos that accurately portray the harsh realities of life in an IDP camp, across the areas of food, security, water, shelter, health, education, livelihoods, agriculture, and sanitation. I hope to tell the story of displacement, displacement-based trauma, and the resilience of the human spirit even in the face of adversity. By highlighting the struggles of those living in an IDP camp, I strive to evoke an emotional response in the viewer that will compel them to think deeply about our shared humanity and act with empathy, justice, and compassion. Further, it is my hope to inspire others to take action to help those in need, and to raise awareness of the plight of refugees.

08/03/2023

To every Phenomenal woman I Know, I celebrate you. Happy international women's day.

28/01/2023

1. Portrait of Dr. Idako with smiles, holding a baby for a mother during a medical outreach at Kabusa Abuja.
2. Dr. Idako helps to ensure order as community members queue for check-ups
Where love goes, needs are met. For the love of God and humanity, many doctors and other professionals volunteer and render services not necessarily from their field of endeavor but anything that serves the overall success and interest of the outreach.
As a humanitarian, love and humility are very key.

24/01/2023

This is Yusuf (made-up Name). The returns on child education can never be over-emphasized. During my assignment with medical outreach at WA SA IDP camp Abuja.
Most of the patients who came for check up did not understand English, making communication a huge challenge. Fortunately, Yusuf who has been to school....came along and became a translator helping to effectively relay information between patients and doctors. This is just one way a child's education has proved empowering.
Education is a very basic human right and unfortunately, many children have been denied it. We must all take responsibility. "To invest in people, prioritize education". Happy International day of education.

23/01/2023

A woman trying to explain ther eyes sight condition to an optician. Shot while on assignment for .

22/01/2023

Have you heard about Eye lice before? Maybe not, the first time I got to know about it was when I was on assignment for medical outreach... A mother came with her daughter with this condition. The girl's eyes were examined, and treated with petroleum jelly.
Eye lice are small parasitic insects that cause itching, irritation, and visible specks of blood in the eyelids. Eye lice can cause itching and discomfort to an infected person. Infestations occur more often in children than adults.
Mothers should always pay attention to their children's eyes. They are very delicate and any symptom of infection should be checked by an Ophthalmologist and treated.

20/01/2023

"One day you will look back and see that all along you were blooming." - Morgan Harper N. Live your best life!

19/01/2023

Old age is an inevitable part of life, but that doesn't always mean it has to be boring. After all, the beauty of growing into old age with a white beard and wrinkles is that it's completely unique.
Recently I have seen photos of fashionable old people created with A. I. Surface the internet and you will agree with me that "aging is just a another world for living".

18/01/2023

In the midst of life, we must carry the lesson that there is beauty to be found in each stage as we grow into our golden years.

20/11/2022

Children at Gbajimba IDP camp Benue state Nigeria. Image from a personal project "Songs of Agony" A project that to seek to raise awareness of the plight and advocate support for people living IDP Camp.

Many children around the world has been homeless and denied the right to education and many basic human right. As we join the UN to celebrate world childrens day. We can not stop to advocate for our leaders of tomorrow whose future is already looking bleak. Happy International childrens day.

08/11/2022

Most time the only limit, is your imagination.

30/10/2022

"If you make friends with the boatman in the dry season, you will be the first to cross when the rains come and the tide is high."

I can't agree more, right now most flooded areas can only be accessed by boat. Making boats more valuable and heavily chained when not in use.

28/10/2022

28/10/2022

Even in the storm, we can still enjoy the rain. Kids fishing in flooded areas in Benue.