By; ARCHIBONG ESUENE, Makurdi
Following the continuous attacks and killings in some Agatu communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, a group, the Agbaduma Elite Forum (AEF) in Agatu Local Goverment Area has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia for urgent intervention.
Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Makurdi, leader of the group, Mr. Abel Abu, lamented that attacks and killings are deliberate plots by some dark forces who are bent on destroying some Agatu communities.
Mr. Abu also admonished other well meaning Nigerians to come to the rescue of the people with solutions that could end years of the attacks on Agatu communities by bad elements.
The group leader condemned what he termed, “selected attack on communities in Agatu, being perpetrated by known persons” which he said if not checked, could bring the entire local government down and jeopardize the future of upcoming children.
“Let it be made abundantly clear that, Agbaduma, Adogoji and Achega are the three major clans who own Agatu and are first settlers in Agatu according to history. Agbaduma as a matter of fact, shares boundary with Obagaji the Agatu Local Government headquarters and the home town of entire Adogoji.
“By implication, all the villages from Akwu, Abugbe, Ocholonya, Ugboju, Odugbeho, Ogbaulu, Adagbo, Aila, Omikwidi, Edeje, Egba, Olochologba, Ekaida are all under Agbaduma land which Agbaduma gave them to settle down freely.
“It is on record that, Agbaduma community has no plan whatsoever to ask the said communities to leave, neither is Agbaduma fighting over anything with any of the communities living on Agbaduma land”.
He expressed concern over frequent communal clashes within the council area and called for ceasefire.
The AEF Leader urged the paramount ruler of Idoma land, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji, the Och’Idoma to call leaders in the various communities and critical stakeholders within and outside the local government for meeting.
According to him, the Agatu people can’t be suffering attacks from Fulani herdsmen and still going through traumatic experiences as a result of communal clashes, “clashes that can be put to an end immediately because Agatu people have suffered for so long in the hands of the Fulani herdsmen and at the same time with untold hardship among all the communities”.
He regretted that communal clashes which has continued to ravage the local government needs to be nipped in the bud, ‘We call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Governor of Benue State Fr. Hyacinth Alia, the Och’Idoma, Agabaidu HRM Dr Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji John and other critical stakeholders to step in.
