Herdsmen to wait till Feb before entering Agatu

FULANI herdsmen will only be permitted to graze their cattle at the end of February, 2017 after the harvest season.

This and others were the resolution of the Joint security, peace and reconciliatory meeting between the governors of Nasarawa and Benue States, Tanko Al- Makura and Samuel Ortom respectively held yesterday in Makurdi, Benue State capital.

The communique which was read by governor Ortom said that that dedicated routes Oguto-Adanyi-Ogumabo-Bagara have been agreed upon by both parties for movement of cattle.

The communique added that grazing along the dedicated routes is only granted to indigenous Fulani herdsmen that are known to Agatu people before the crisis, this, according to the communique is to forestall destruction of farms and exhaustion of available green pastures.

The communique further reads, ‘the two governors will make a case to the federal government, donor agencies, development partners, voluntary organizations and philanthropists to assist victims of crises in the affected communities of Benue and Nasarawa states.

“The meeting also noted with concern, the proliferation of sophisticated weapons and ammunition in the two communities and called on security agencies in the two states to take necessary steps to check the trend in order to forestall a reoccurrence of similar crisis.

“We also urge all those in possession of illegal weapons to surrender immediately.

“We call on the federal government to do all it can to checkmate migrant herdsmen from entering the country in order to prevent the build-up on the Nasarawa bank of river Benue.”

The communique charged all parties, Agatu/Fulani to refrain from taking laws into their hands and ordered that all breaches be reported to constituted authority.

Governor Ortom announced donation of N30million; from both states as initial step in the reconstruction of the destroyed property in Agatu communities.