A member of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Adamu Entonu, on Thursday, urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the raging crisis between fulani herdsmen and the Agatu community in Benue.
Entonu, who represents Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency of Benue State, made the call in a press conference in Abuja.
He accused both the Federal and Benue state governments of demonstrating lackadaisical attitude towards addressing the crisis.
According to him, People of Agatu are presently living in fear due to the presence of heavily armed herdsmen who have been allegedly empowered to resettle in the community by the state government.
Entonu said that the unwillingness of both the State and Federal Governments to disarm the herdsmen was not only hypocritical but suggested a sinister agenda that worried the Agatu community.
“There is need for the tiers of government to find a lasting solution to the fued because farm crops are being destroyed, people being matched when they complain and farmers are perpetually afraid to visit their farms.
“How can the Federal government be talking about food security while the food basket of the nation is facing such challenges in the hands of herdsmen?
“The state government should carry out a holistic disarmament programme involving both sides, rather than intimidating and issuing unnecessary ultimatum to the people.
“Neither the Federal and Benue state governments have shown any form of empathy nor provided any assistance to the Agatu people.
“They have not shown any interest in spite of the outcry of our people as a result of the heavy economic injury inflicted on the people of Agatu by the herdsmen.
“We are sitting on a keg of gunpowder in Agatu, the said agreement entered into by the government has never been acceptable to the Agatu people.
“There is mayhem going on, as women and children are being raped while the men who try to react are being hacked to death.
“A rehabilitation program that can lead to recovery and sustenance of means of livelihood is highly desirous at a time like this, when the people of Agatu are feeling neglected and alienated; to at least give our people a sense of belonging,” Entonu added.
While commending the military on the professional conduct in quelling the crises between the Agatu community and the herdsmen, the lawmaker also condemned the killing of a soldier in efforts to ensure peace and security in the area.
It would be recalled that a soldier was killed in Oleigada Ikolo community of Agatu Local Government Area during a fight involving some youths of the local government and soldiers.
Entonu, however, assured of the commitment of Agatu people, to ensure that perpetrators of the act were fished out to face the law and called on security agencies to carry out thorough investigation into the killing.
According to him, it might be the handiwork of a fifth columnist.
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