Tag Archives: Agatu

One Soldier Killed In Agatu Youths Clash.

Posted on by
345

A military personnel drafted to Agatu by the Benue State Joint Security Council, has been killed in a clash with youths in the community, in an attempt to disarm the youths who were at a burial to mourn one of their own.

Governor Samuel Ortom disclosed this at the 3rd Benue stakeholders forum convened to discuss issues of insecurity, high civil service wage bill and job creation through agriculture.

The death of the soldier, is the height of the two weeks agitation in the Adoka/Agatu axis, where a police station was attacked last week and a service riffle snatched by youths suspected to be from Agatu local council.

However, the Christian Association of Nigeria, believes the presence of herdsmen in the state, poses a threat to the church and its communities, another participant at the meeting, proposed for the  conversion of Sambisa forest to grazing reserve, to reduce the violence in the state.

The governor has however experienced concern over the spate of violence in Agatu area, and has asked security agencies to fish out those involved in the death of the soldier.

Agatu Communal Clashes Unfortunate, says Presidential Aide

Posted on by
Reply

Dr Mariam Marsha, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), has described the Agatu communal clashes as unfortunate and not in the character of Nigerians.

 

Masha, condemned the incident in an interview with newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

 

The clashes claimed the lives of more than 300 people including women and children.

 

The incident also resulted in the displacement of people seeking refuge in various communities.

Masha said government was working closely with key players in the area, to address the root causes of the communal clashes.

 

“It’s unfortunate because this is very unlike Nigerian, violence of this nature is terror and it is not something that is a part of us.

“And it’s something that we need to work together both within the community at the government level, state and federal levels, but also within the communities.

“The community leaders, religious leaders are also people that can be very influential in changing the narrative.

“When issues like this occur it’s important that there is justice, law and order must prevail and there is justice.

“And when that is seen to have been done, than people have the feeling of being looked after, people have the feeling of being considered.

“It’s not something that one would wish for anyone but it’s as I said again, is very unlike Nigerians and we need to do our best to push back against this kind of incident in the future.

 

She pledged government’s commitment to providing assistance for victims of the communal clashes.

 

“NEMA, I am aware has started providing assistance and beyond that is the measures being put in place to find security solutions, we have the military and that is just one step.

“If we don’t know what the real causes are, we will be scratching
through the surface of the issues,’’ she said.

 

The presidential aide said the IDPs in Benue required urgent and special attention as those affected by similar incidences in the North East and other parts of the country.

 

(NAN)

Benue Leaders Flay Buhari, Army, Police, Gov, Others Over Agatu

Posted on by
1

A joint meeting of all Benue socio-cultural groups and religious leaders has flayed President Muhammadu Buhari, Army, Police chiefs, and the state governor for failing to visit Agatu and other besieged Benue communities after the mass attacks and killings in the communities by suspected Fulani militia.

They contended that the action smacked of insensitivity and care free attitude on the part of the leaders to the plight of the people of the state. A communique issued in Makurdi at the end of a combined meeting of the Mdzough U Tiv, the Idoma National Forum and the Omi Ny’Igede, on the killings and wanton destruction of property of Benue indigenes by Fulani herdsmen, they expressed worry at the delay in setting up of the Presidential Investigative Panel as promised by President Buhari. Among others, the meeting had in attendance, the Catholic Bishop of Gboko Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Williams Avenya that of Katsina-Ala Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Adobo.

Part of the communique read, “the inability of the President, the nation’s Army and Police Chiefs, and the Governor of Benue State to visit the worst affected communities of Agatu and other areas where recent mass murder attacks were carried out for on the spot assessment of the level of devastation indicates lack of seriousness deserving of the crisis. The delay in setting up the Presidential Investigation Panel promised by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is also becoming worrisome.

“The proposed Town Hall Meeting by the Federal Government is not only diversionary, but a deliberate ploy to downplay the degree of attention and seriousness that should be accorded the invasion of our land.

“We reject the Federal Government’s proposal at this time, but insist on Judicial Commission of Enquiry to unravel the root cause(s) of the massacre of our people. We advise that all relevant government agencies saddled with the responsibilities of home land security begin the process of disarming Fulani herdsmen across the country to avoid a counter arms buildup by helpless communities in self defence.”

Credit: Vanguard

Protest At National Assembly Over Agatu Killings

Posted on by
Reply

Aggrieved youths from Agatu local government area of Benue State on Wednesday embarked on a peaceful protest to the National Assembly to express their displeasure over the continued killing of their people by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

 

One of the aggrieved community members identified as Aliyu Okpani said, “The essence of the protest is to draw the attention of the federal government to our plight in Agatu.”

“The Fulani people have continued to kill our people even up till this morning. They have rendered over 400 people homeless and the government is silent.”

“Just two days ago, during the burial of some of the people killed by these marauders, the Fulani people invaded again, killing scores and leaving many wounded.”

The placard-wielding protesters converged at the Unity fountain from where they marched to the Police Force Headquarters, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, before getting to the National Assembly in a bid to register their plight in the hands of Fulani herdsmen.

agatu4 agatu1

 

The messages on some of the placards read, Agatu Massacre; “We want Commission of Inquiry,” “Save Agatu, preserve Idomas,” “Our Women and children are dying.”

 

Coordinator of the protest , Paul Edeh while speaking at the National Assembly said, “We the Agatu people are calling for a commission of inquiry into the continued killings in our community which should be headed by the Chief Justice of the Federation.”

 

Ede also called on the Federal Government to deploy security operatives to the borders of Agatu so as to shield the community from incessant invasion.

 

Addressing the crowd who were donned on red and black attire in in protest against the killings in Agatu, the Deputy Majority Leader, Sen. Bala Ibn Na-Allah said, “As far as the Senate is concerned injury to one Idoma man is injury to all.”

 

“We have a responsibility to ensure that everybody lives free and not in fear under democracy.”

 

“What touches me most is that the protest has the involvement of the clergy, like we all know when this group of people cry only those with fear hears.”

 

It was gathered that the military officials sent to secure the community had to back out as they were overpowered by the superior firepower of the suspected Fulani invaders.

 

Over 200 people are believed to have so far been killed.

 

Credit : Daily Post

Agatu Youths Give FG Two Days Ultimatum To Stop Fulani Attacks

Posted on by
Reply

The Agatu Youth Movement, AYM, has called on the Federal and State Government to as a matter of urgency act on the endless killings in the area or face a massive act of civil disobedience from its citizens.

 

President of the group, Comrade Jeremiah Friday in a statement issued on Wednesday asked the relevant authority to act fast before it was too late.

 

According to Friday, “We are using this medium to call the attention of the Federal and State Government to respond quickly to the killing of Agatu people by Fulani herdsmen.
“Our homes are being destroyed, our people are being killed and those alive are in pain. Parents and children have been rendered helpless. We sleep with our two eyes open. The State Federal Government is silent about it.

 

“We hereby give the Federal and State Governments two days to put a stop to these killings otherwise we shall mobilise youths from the Local to protest the silence of the authorities but to resort to self-help.”