*”AGATU IN CRISIS: LEADERSHIP FAILURE AND COMMUNAL TENSIONS BLAMED FOR INSECURITY”*
The Agatu National Youth Council (ANYC) has issued a scathing critique of Agatu’s leadership, alleging that politicians and community leaders are responsible for the area’s insecurity. Comr Ochokwunu Daniel Edor, ANYC Convener, claims that leaders have “traded” their people to Fulani herdsmen, contributing to the violence.
Edor cited the Éngba community’s alleged collaboration with herdsmen as an example, questioning why Agatu hasn’t defeated these attackers. He blamed leaders’ complicity and prioritization of politics over people’s welfare.
The statement condemned leaders for seeking external help to settle scores with neighboring communities, citing an alleged Akwu attack on Adagbo community. Edor urged accountability, warning that hypocrisy will be exposed.
ANYC’s statement sparked intense debate, with many calling for action against corrupt leaders. The group’s demands include justice for victims and an end to impunity.
The Agatu National Youth Council (ANYC) has been vocal about the security situation in Agatu, petitioning the police chief over herdsmen attacks and arbitrary arrests. According to ANYC, Fulani herdsmen have been attacking Agatu communities since 2013, resulting in loss of lives, destruction of properties, and devastation of farmlands, with suspected collusion between the herdsmen and some individuals in positions of authority.
In response, the Agatu Local Government Area chairman, James Melvin Ejeh, has issued a directive giving Fulani herdsmen 48 hours to vacate all agricultural lands in the area to protect farming activities ahead of the farming season. The local council’s decision reflects broader efforts across Benue State to prioritize farming activities while mitigating conflicts between herders and farmers.
The economic cost of these conflicts is significant, with studies showing that farmer-herder conflicts have resulted in substantial losses in agricultural production. Some have suggested joint economic development projects as a tool for promoting lasting peace and sustainable development in the area.