The Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji
Tanko Al-Makura, and his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom, have
appealed to the Federal Government to do all it can to check the
migration of herdsmen from neighbouring countries into Nigeria.
Al-Makura and Ortom made this call via a
communiqué they jointly signed after a joint security, peace and
reconciliatory meeting they held to deliberate on the Agatu/Fulani
crisis in their states.
The governors said checking the
incursion of foreign herdsmen into the country would help to prevent the
build-up on the Nasarawa bank of River Benue.
According to the communiqué, the two
governors agreed that it was only Fulani herdsmen that would be
permitted to graze their cattle in the area and they could only do so
after the harvest season, at the end of February, 2017.
The communiqué, which was read by Ortom, said Oguto-Adanyi-Ogumabo-Bagara route had been dedicated for the movement of cattle.
The communiqué added that grazing along
the dedicated route was only granted to indigenous Fulani herdsmen that
were known to Agatu people before the crisis.
It explained that this was to forestall the destruction of farms and exhaustion of available green pasture.
The communiqué read partly, “The two
governors will make a case to the Federal Government, donor agencies,
development partners, voluntary organisations and philanthropists to
assist victims of crises in the affected communities of Benue and
Nasarawa states.
“The meeting also noted, with concern,
the proliferation of sophisticated weapons and ammunition in the two
communities and called on security agencies in the two states to take
necessary steps to check the trend in order to forestall a reoccurrence
of similar crisis.
“We also urge all those in possession of illegal weapons to surrender them immediately.
“We call on the Federal Government to do
all it can to check migrant herdsmen from entering the country in order
to prevent the build-up on the Nasarawa bank of river Benue.”
The two governors charged all parties,
Agatu/Fulani to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and
ordered that all breaches should be reported to constituted authorities.
Ortom announced a donation of N30m, from
both states, as initial step in the reconstruction of the destroyed
property in Agatu communities.
Meanwhile, the Agatu people of Benue
State have called on the Federal Government to embark on the
reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation of the crisis-ridden
communities or else they would not allow Fulani herdsmen into their
communities.
This resolution was contained in a paper
presented on Wednesday to Al-Makura and Ortom at the peace meeting held
in Obagaji, the headquarters of the Agatu Local Government Area of the
state.
The sole administrator of the LGA, Mike
Inalegwu, while presenting the paper, said until the conditions were
met, no herdsmen would be allowed into the council area.
“Agatu people have lost so much in the
constant attacks; at the last count, we have lost over 3,920 people
within four years aside property worth several billions of naira, as a
result of these. What my people are saying is that no herdsmen will be
allowed into our communities until the Federal Government embarks on the
reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation of our people.”
As part of their demands, the council
also wanted the creation of ranches, saying it was the only solution to
the problem of incessant farmers/herdsmen clashes in the area.
However, Al-Makura and Ortom called on
Agatu people not to impose stringent conditions but promised to come out
with issues that would bring a lasting solution to the crises.
Ortom explained that the essence of the meeting was to negotiate and find a new platform for peace between both states.
“We cannot continue to fold our hands
and lament. We must find ways to resolve the crisis. Fighting would not
add value to our lives,” Ortom said.
Read more at: The Punch
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