Since We Came To This Barracks 5 Years Ago, We’ve Not Seen Water Running – Benue Residents Cry Out Over Water Scarcity
According to Vanguard News on Friday May 22, 2026, residents of the Mobile Police (Mopol) Barracks in Makurdi, Benue State, have raised concerns over what they described as years of severe water scarcity, alleging that hundreds of families living in the facility depend largely on a nearby stream for survival.
The barracks, said to be one of the largest police residential facilities in the state and home to nearly 400 families, has become the centre of complaints from residents who say the absence of running water has turned daily life into a struggle… Watch Full Video Here ➤
Several women living in the barracks narrated how they wake up as early as 2 a.m. to fetch water from a stream, especially during the dry season when supply becomes even more difficult...READ FULL STORY; FROM THE SOURCE.
One of the residents, Madam Franca, a mother of six who has lived in the barracks for about five years, said the situation has remained unchanged since her arrival.
“Since we came to this barracks about five years ago, we have not seen water running here. There is a borehole, but it broke down several years ago,” she said.
According to her, the challenge goes beyond fetching water as residents living on upper floors must carry heavy containers up staircases daily.
“We do this every day by trekking long distances to fetch water and climbing the stairs to take it into our flats. By the time you are done, you are completely exhausted,” she lamented.
She further expressed disappointment that families of police officers who serve across the country under difficult conditions are themselves facing harsh living realities at home.
Another resident identified as Mummy Grace, who has lived in the barracks for about three years, said the stream remains the only dependable water source for residents.
“If not for this stream, how would we have survived in Mopol 13 Barracks? Since we came here, I have never seen water run in the toilets or kitchen,” she stated.
