A member of the House of Representatives for Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency of Benue State, Pastor Ojotu Ojema has called on the Nigerian military to embark on clearance operations against armed herders threatening the peace of communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
He said the armed herders were presently occupying 20 communities in the area after displacing natives.
Ojema disclosed this over the weekend during a chat with journalists in Makurdi.
Recall that suspected Fulani bandits invaded Egwuma community in Agatu recently and killed two soldiers and six others.
The lawmaker lamented that the activities of the armed herders had increased over time in many communities in the Agatu area of the State, resulting in sacking of over 20 communities and loss of lives.
Ojema stated that there was need for the Nigerian Military to step up more capacity and proactive approach to curtail the situation.
He lamented that the Apa/Agatu axis of Benue State remained the most abandoned and maltreated local government area in Nigeria following the high-level of insecurity being experienced.
“Since I entered the National Assembly as a representative of my people, I have visited Agatu more than 25 times and all of these bothers on coming to console people that have been attacked by suspected herders.
“I remember vividly when I was just two months in office, there was an attack in Ayila which I needed to put myself together to identify with the people.
“I moved a motion in the floor of the house and not too long, there was another attack in that same place, five security men were killed and I came again, saw it myself and I still went back to the house, moved a motion to that effect.
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“As I speak with you, just Tuesday, exactly October 1, while people were celebrating and others were thinking on how to celebrate the independence, another attack happened in Egwuma community where six persons were killed, including the community leader and two soldiers.
“These soldiers were particularly mobilized to that community because of incessant attacks on that same community.
“As I speak with you, over 20 communities in that area have been sacked. The place has been turned into a forest.
“I came to 72 battalion north bank in Makurdi and I told them that there was a need for soldiers to be permanently stationed in that area and they did.
“Over 50 soldiers were taken to the area and on that fateful day, armed herders appeared from nowhere, killed so many people in that community and thereafter they descended on the soldiers.
“The situation is worrisome. The most worrisome aspect of it is that these people WHO sacked our people and decided to live in the community with their cattle, do their normal business, then look for the next community to attack”, Ojema lamented.
He maintained that there was need for the country’s security apparatus to urgently step up their efforts in ensuring that they brought total freedom and salvaged the situation in Agatu.
“This is because considering the capacity and volume of the level of professionalism the Nigeria security is known for, I can’t believe that there is anybody with capacity to challenge them or overpower them.
“So, what they need to do is to step up their work by engaging in clearance operations. If they cannot go by road, they can go by air because these people cannot overrun the security of this country,” he further stated.
