The Agatu Youth Development Initiative, AYDI, has condemned the recent killing of a herder and the rustling of cows in several communities across Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

The group attributed the crimes to perpetrators of violent acts, whom they described as enemies of the peaceful people of Agatu.

In a statement released on Saturday, AYDI expressed deep concern over the increasing criminal activities in the area, revealing that over 210 cows have been killed and stolen in the past few months.

AYDI clarified that these perpetrators were not indigenes of Agatu but rather outsiders envious of the peace and stability established in the region since October 2024.

The group’s National President, Ngbede Edoh, and Woman Leader, Mrs Rose Onuminya, expressed fears that the criminal acts could reverse the significant progress made in peace-building efforts by the executive chairman of Agatu LGA, Hon Melvin Ejeh.

The statement reads: “We are constrained to issue this press statement, in light of recent events in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, whose people are known to be peace-lovers, peace-makers, as well as peace-builders

“We are deeply concerned about verified reports of fresh killings of an innocent boy, and over 210 cows by enemies of Agatu, who seek to reverse the gains our people have been enjoying from the peace strategy with Fulani leaders, which ensured that herders and settlers will respect the laws, traditions and customs of their host communities.

“As a gesture of reciprocity, our people undertook to be good hosts, hospitable, and accommodating, in demonstration of their time-honoured nature.

“We are afraid that if nothing is done – and urgently too – Agatu land might be returned to the dark days, where killings and reprisals were the order of the day.

“As is often said: ‘beneficiaries of acts of wickedness and crimes are those that originate them’. Therefore, no effort should be spared to stop evildoers from taking us back to Egypt.

“As a transparent, non-profit organisation, we make bold to state that the perpetrators of this fresh, targeted violence, do not represent Agatu, hence do not have the stainless and pure blood of Agatu running in their veins.

“Our painstaking investigations revealed that they are bad eggs, who are sponsored to truncate the peace enjoyed by the good people of Agatu since the assumption of office of the chairman, Hon (Amb) Melvin Ejeh.

“They are crises merchants, who accept the least of incentives, including a mess of pottage, to main, kill, and spill innocent blood, to satisfy their paymasters.”