Benue socio-cultural group calls on FG over intending attack on Agatu

Benue State major socio-cultural organization has called on federal government and law enforcement agencies to the infiltration of Fulani herdsmen in Agatu local government area of the state.

The organization comprises of Mdzough U Tiv, Idoma National Forum and Omi Ny’ Igede said that the call was necessary to forestall the new year ugly incident in the state.

The leader of the group, Chief Edward Ujege made the call on Tuesday at a press briefing held in Makurdi, Benue State.

He recalled the 2016 genocide in Agatu leading to the killings of about 500 person and the latest killings of over 70 persons in Guma and Logo all in Benue State.

He said that the group decided to draw the attention of government and law enforcement agencies to the report of the influx of herdsmen and their cattle into Agatu and the feelings of people of the state over the nonchalant attitude of the Federal government since the new year incidence.

The group reiterated the call for the arrest of the leadership of Miyeittii Allah Kautal Hore.

According to Ujege, “we are expecting attacks in Agatu, there has been an influx of herdsmen into the area, we are calling on security agents to as a matter of urgency move to the area to avert the reoccurrence of 2016 and new year attacks.”

He, however, regretted that since the new year genocide, the federal government has not done anything to prevent further attacks especially that the masterminds of the incessant killings in the state were known to the government through their confessions and threats.

“All government action had been on how to appease the aggressors rather than find succour for the victims, adding, the most heinous of such appeasement is the federal government plan for cattle colonies.”

While denouncing the claim by the patron of the herdsmen that the recent attacks were caused by the promulgation of anti-open grazing law, Ujege charged the Sultan of  Sokoto to be abreast with global trend in ranching of cattle.

“The Sultan of Sokoto and his Miyeitti people must face the reality and inescapable fact that large-scale nomadic practice does not belong to this age of technological advancement.”

“We the people of Benue on our part hereby categorically declare our unflinching resolution that despite the intimidation and gory killings, the anti-open grazing law has come to stay.”

The group also rejected the committee set up by the federal government on farmers/ herdsmen crisis, saying, ‘the calamity that befell Benue State in early January 2018 could in no way be classified as a clash but a dastardly attack on people while they were sleeping.”

“The committee is therefore unnecessary and a waste of time and resources,” Ujege concluded.