FOLLOWING the communiqué signed last week by governors of Nasarawa and Benue States, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura and Samuel Ortom respectively, minority Leader of Benue State assembly, Alhaji Su,e Audu has said that Agatu people differ from the position presented in the communiqué.
Audu who represented Agatu State Constituency at the State House of Assembly, said that the people of Agatu have not and will not in any way cede any part of their land to Fulani herdsmen for cattle rearing.
Alhaji Audu said that Agatu people are totally against entry of any Fulani man into the land for grazing, pending when rehabilitation and reconstruction of the area will be done.
He added that the Agatu people cherish the provision of ranches as been advocated by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State to end the crisis between both parties.
He regretted that Governor Ortom wrongly announced some Agatu land designated for grazing while reading the communiqué issued at the end of the joint security meeting between Nasarawa and Benue states.
According to him, “there was no such decision jointly made by stakeholders on both Agatu and Fulani sides that any part of Agatu should be designated for grazing, adding that Agatu people have no plan for herdsmen to come and occupy their area.
”I want to put the record straight that Ogwumogba and Adayii areas, which is part of Benue State that were mentioned by Governor Ortom while reading the communiqué, as part of designated routes for Fulani to pass through, were pronounced in error.
”The routes that were specifically allowed for Fulani to pass through, which is Gwoto in Nasarawa State and Abana in Kogi State, have nothing to do with any part of Benue State. Going by the agreement signed between Fulani in Nasarawa State and sole administrator of Agatu local government of Benue State before the commencement of the recent peace meeting has been declared null avoid.”