No fewer than 300 persons have been confirmed dead in a renewed outbreak of violence in Agatu local government area of Benue state.
The attacks were carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen in various part of the local government.
The affected villages include Okokolo, Akwu, Ocholonya, Adagbo, Ugboku and Aila, which were completely burnt down by the attackers.
“Several communities including Obagaji, the local government headquarters, where people usually took refuge in the past, have been deserted”, a source hinted.
A resident of Akwu told newsmen in Benue that “People are fleeing into Ugbokpo in neighbouring Apa council. It is a well coordinated attack on Agatu communities.”
“As I speak with you, fighting is still raging; many are missing and we have a huge number of displaced persons without facilities to house them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Opiatoha K’Idoma, a socio-cultural organisation of Idoma sons and daughters, have called on the federal government to put an end to the endless crisis in the area.
According to the group, “What we see happening in Agatu today can be likened to happenings in the North-East and we call for urgent action by the Federal Government.
“The Idoma nation is helpless. Over 300 Agatu people have been killed and others maimed in one week without concerted effort by the state government to abate the attack, killings and destruction.
“On the other hand, there are no identifiable camps to cater for the Internally Displaced Persons, which include mostly women and children; we call on the Federal Government to establish a full military base in Agatu, otherwise the area will soon become history.”
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