Rampaging Fulani herdsmen displace over 7000 persons in Agatu

No fewer than 7000 persons were displaced in the aftermath of attacks by Fulani herdsmen on some farming communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

The displaced persons were sacked from Okokolo, Akwu, Ocholonya, Adagbo, Ugboku and Aila by rampaging Fulani herdsmen and are presently taking shelter at makeshift camps at the Ochi Idoma square in Otukpo, Ugbokpo, Adoka, Ojantele, Ikobi and other neighboring communities.

One of the refugees who spoke to newsmen in Otukpo lamented the terrible state of affairs at the camps and called on government and well-meaning individuals to come to their aid.

“We sleep on bare floor since we don’t have mattress or mats. It is quite a difficult situation as we are exposed to mosquitoes and all kinds of insects and reptiles during the day and at night. The absence of medical officers at the crowded camp is also a disturbing factor, and you can see that the entire camp is not suitable for human habitation," he said.

The elderly man described last week's invasion of Agatu communities by herdsmen as an operation aimed at wiping Agatu people out of their ancestral lands.

“Till today, the Fulani herdsmen are still in our communities causing mayhem. As I am talking to you, their cows have taken over our land. In fact we believe that it is the government of Nasarawa State that is fighting us; the peace Governor Almakura claims to be making is a deceit. They should tell the world who provided the two helicopters which flew into Abogbe and Okokolo to provide ammunitions for the Fulanis,” he lamented.

A priest with the Justice, Development and Peace of Otukpo Catholic Diocese, Rev Fr John Attah described the condition of the refugees as pathetic.

“I shed tears when I saw old women running from their ancestral homes seeking refuge. It is pathetic,” he said.

He called on the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA to urgently complement the efforts of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA in providing the desperately needed relief materials.

Photo credits: Vanguard