Agatu council chairman revokes grazing pact, orders armed herders out of Benue community

The Chairman of Agatu Local Government Council, Hon Melvin James Ejeh, has revoked the 2017 grazing agreement that granted herders access to Adapati Island and ordered all armed herders to vacate Agatu communities with immediate effect.

This follows recent renewed violent attacks in the area.

In a press statement issued on Thursday, Ejeh said Agatu Local Government Area has witnessed a fresh wave of attacks allegedly carried out by armed herders who he said infiltrated the area after recent military airstrikes in parts of Sokoto State.

According to the council chairman, the attacks have led to the killing of women and children, injuries, reported cases of rape, destruction of homes and farmlands, and the displacement of hundreds of residents.

Describing the situation as a grave humanitarian and security crisis, Ejeh condemned the attacks and said the continued bloodshed in Agatu was unacceptable.

“In view of the persistent violations and escalating violence, I hereby announce the immediate revocation of the 2017 agreement that granted herdsmen access to Adapati Island for grazing,” he said.

He described the agreement, entered into by a former sole administrator, as one that was not executed in good faith and had negative consequences for the people of Agatu.

The chairman declared the agreement “null and void” and ordered all armed herders to leave Agatu land, insisting that no part of the local government area belongs to herders.

“Agatu is an agrarian community, and our farmlands must be protected to guarantee food security and the livelihoods of our people,” he stated.

Ejeh called on the Federal Government and security agencies to urgently deploy additional military and police personnel to Agatu, saying the current security arrangement was inadequate.

He commended Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, for efforts to restore peace across the state and also praised security agencies, including Operation Whirl Stroke, Operation Anyam Nyor, the Nigeria Police, DSS and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, for their operations in the area.

However, he said the recent influx of armed herders required increased troop deployment to flush out criminal elements from Agatu communities.

The council chairman disclosed that some suspects had been arrested in connection with the attacks and warned that anyone aiding or abetting insecurity in the area would be prosecuted.

He urged residents to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, assuring them that government and security agencies were working to restore peace.

“The position of the Agatu people is clear: at this time, no herder is welcome on Agatu land,” Ejeh said.