The Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, Melvin Ejeh, has ordered all herders to vacate Agatu land with immediate effect following renewed violent attacks that have left residents dead, injured and displaced.
Ejeh also revoked a 2017 grazing agreement that allowed herders access to Adepati Island, declaring the pact null and void.
In a statement issued in Makurdi, he said the deal was never implemented in good faith and had instead exposed Agatu communities to grave danger.
He linked the latest wave of violence to armed herders who allegedly fled recent military airstrikes in neighbouring areas, particularly around the Sokoko axis, and infiltrated Agatu communities.
According to the council chairman, the attackers unleashed “unprecedented terror” on residents, leading to multiple deaths, serious injuries, reported cases of rape, the destruction of homes and farmlands, and the displacement of hundreds now facing dire humanitarian conditions.
Describing the situation as both a security and humanitarian emergency, Ejeh condemned the attacks, saying they could no longer be tolerated. “Our people are being hunted on their ancestral land without provocation, and this cannot be allowed to continue,” he said.
Announcing the revocation of the grazing agreement, Ejeh stated: “That agreement, entered into by the then administration, was never carried out in good faith. It was done under the guise of promoting peaceful coexistence, but at the expense of the Agatu people. Consequently, I hereby declare the agreement null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”
He stressed that Agatu is an agrarian community and warned that its farmlands must be protected to safeguard food security and livelihoods. “All armed herders are hereby ordered to vacate Agatu land with immediate effect,” he declared.
The chairman called on the Federal Government and security agencies to urgently reinforce military and police presence in the area, noting that existing deployments were inadequate to stem the violence.
He commended Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, for his efforts to restore peace and praised joint operations involving Operation Whirl Stroke, the police, DSS, NSCDC and other security agencies.
Ejeh disclosed that several suspects had already been arrested in connection with the attacks and assured that investigations were ongoing.
He said the stance of the Agatu people was clear: no herder is welcome on Agatu land at this time, adding that any future engagement would require broad consultation through legitimate channels.
He urged residents to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, warning against reprisals as security agencies work to stabilise the area.
