By: Ariyo-Dare Atoye
\n@AriyoAristotle<\/p>\n
How long can the Agatu tribe in Nigeria survive the ongoing invasion of
\ntheir lands by suspected Fulani herdsmen? The fertile fields of the Agatus
\nof Benue State in North Central Nigeria, are at the risk of being totally
\noverrun by marauders who see the lands as good for grazing for their cows.<\/p>\n
The scale of destruction in the latest attacks is massive, as several
\ncommunities have been completely destroyed and deserted. The human
\ncasualties are reportedly high as no fewer than 300 persons are said to
\nhave been killed in the attacks that lasted for days according to some
\neyewitnesses. Some dead bodies are still yet to be retrieved and buried.<\/p>\n
A media intervention was coordinated by David Mark, a former President of
\nthe Nigerian Senate to reveal to the world, the magnitude of the disaster
\ncarried out against his people. The affected villages are in Agatu local
\ngovernment, which is under Benue South Senatorial district.<\/p>\n
There have several clashes and crises reported in these areas before now,
\nas the natives usually battle for the control of their farm lands during
\nthe dry seasons, to secure them from destruction by cattle. But nothing is
\nnear the magnitude of the latest attacks on the communities. “It is beyond
\nhuman comprehension,” says Senator David Mark, a former President of the
\nNigerian Senate and the lawmaker representing the area.<\/p>\n
Several communities have become totally inhabitable while the Fulani cows
\nhave taken over several farms and are seen eating out crops and destroying
\nalready cultivated heaps of land for farming. But as the media convoy
\ndrove through the sacked villages, hordes of Fulani herdsmen and their
\ncattle are sighted massing away intensely.<\/p>\n
“They usually return at night to lurk around and in some buildings still
\nstanding,” one of the Agatu farmers said.\u00a0 With the exception of a few
\nchickens and goats wandering about aimlessly in the wasted villages, there
\nis no sign of human life. The people have either been killed or fled the
\nattacks.<\/p>\n
In some affected communities visited which include Aila, Adagbo, Akwu,
\nOkokolo, Ugboju, Odugbeho & Ocholonya, all the scene of the attacks are
\nreminiscent of what the world sees daily in Syria and other crisis prone
\nregions. Some of the affected villages now bore a semblance of war-torn
\nenvironment.<\/p>\n
“I am shocked beyond words at the extent of destruction I have seen here
\nin Agatu today. I didn’t believe that the level of destruction was up to
\nthis extent. Nothing whatsoever justifies this brazen act of destruction
\nmeted out on the people of Agatu. Whatever the reason for this, those
\nresponsible must be caught and they must be punished,” says David Mark.<\/p>\n
Aside the journalists, Mark was accompanied by personal staff and
\npolitical associates, including the immediate former Minister of Interior,
\nAbba Moro, two members of the House of Representatives, Samson Okwu and
\nEzekiel Adaji representing Oju\/Obi and Otukpo\/Ohinmini respectively. No
\nfewer than ten members of the State House of Assembly were involved.<\/p>\n
Schools, churches, small-scale cassava factories are completely razed down
\nby the attackers. It is a gory sight to behold. Some community leaders who
\nfollowed Senator Mark to inspect the extent of the damage, have described
\nthe invasion of their lands as “a deliberate act of genocide,” against the
\nAgatu tribes.”<\/p>\n
“What we are seeing is a pogrom against our tribe as it is now obvious
\nthat the Fulani herdsmen want to destroy our houses, farms and take over
\nour lands for cattle grazing. The extermination of our ancestry home is
\ntaking place before our eyes,” a former Councillor said.<\/p>\n
It is however not unlikely that there will be more ferocious attacks on
\nAgatu lands by more herdsmen trying to escape the drought in the Northern
\nregion of the country this year, as the Nigerian Meteorological agency has
\npredicted a “less-than-normal rainfall amounts as well as dry spells.”<\/p>\n
Some adjoining communities and more especially the headquarters of the
\nlocal government, Obagaji where people usually take refuge in the past,
\nhave also been deserted, for fear of possible attacks. Women and children
\nhave relocated to far distance while the men are keeping vigil in some yet
\nto be attacked villages nearby.<\/p>\n
But contrary to claims by a Fulani community in Benue State that over ten
\nthousands cows were killed by the Agatus, there is however no single sight
\nof a dead cow in about 10 villages visited, while hundreds of herds are
\nseeing wandering in farm lands. The Agatu community have also described
\nthe incidents as unprovoked attacks.<\/p>\n
It is a big tragedy in every sense of it and the Agatus risk total
\ndislocation from their lands if nothing drastic is done by the Benue State
\ngovernment and the federal government. Although President Muhammadu Buhari
\nhas ordered an investigation into the incident, but nothing concrete has
\nbeen laid out or done so far.<\/p>\n
Beyond sending palliatives to the people, the Benue State governor, Samuel
\nOrtom is yet to visit the scenes of the attacks, while a delegation from
\nthe Federal Government who recently came close to some affected
\ncommunities, has only merely scratched the surface says Moses Ngbede a
\nyouth leader in the area.<\/p>\n
Without a quick government intervention, the invasion of Agatu land will
\nbe completed in no time, according to a community leader, Mr. James Audu.
\nThe situation is deteriorating and a big humanitarian disaster is building
\nup in the entire local government of Agatu and beyond.<\/p>\n
Some audacious youths in the communities have vowed to defend their home
\nlands against the marauders. They are also not comfortable with a few
\ndispatch of military men sent to the area to keep peace. The youths are
\nangry that the soldiers have not been able swing into action and go after
\nthe marauders.<\/p>\n
“We are not relying on the soldiers to defend our lands. They have refused
\nto fight the offending herdsmen or make any arrest. They have not been of
\nany help to us,” the youth vigilantes told Mark.<\/p>\n
A military source in the area said they have not been given order to shoot
\nthe invading herdsmen but to keep peace. Unfortunately this has not gone
\ndown well with the people. It has further fueled some concerns among the
\nAgatus that some people in government are also supporting the Fulani
\nherdsmen.<\/p>\n
Based on the coordinated manner of the latest attacks, the Agatus have now
\nsuspected an expansionist agenda for both grazing and occupation purposes.
\nSeveral of the Agatu villages are overlooking a massive expanse of green
\nlands and a flowing river used for rice plantation.<\/p>\n
The Fulani herdsmen are nomads and are increasingly moving down south of
\nNigeria in search of grazing land for their herds, which has led to
\nseveral confrontations in many villages across most States. Benue State is
\nprone to attacks from the herdsmen who usually pass through the State’s
\nroutes to graze and to mass to other locations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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