300 confirmed dead as Fulani herdsmen attack communities
- Fulani herdsmen are reportedly on a mission in Agatu local government
- Number of displaced persons on the rise as no shelter comes in sight
- David Mark begs President Buhari to wade in
No fewer than 300 persons have been confirmed dead following a siege on Agatu local government area of Benue state.
Legit.ng had reported two days ago that the local government area was under attack by over 300 militants, a development which was reported to have erupted following the Senate south rerun election in the state.
Fresh reports from Vanguard have it that at least 300 persons have lost their lives following series of attacks by Fulani herdsmen in the last one week.
Villages including Okokolo, Akwu, Ocholonya, Adagbo, Ugboku and Aila were reportedly razed as decomposing bodies of those killed were seen littering the communities.
"Several communities including Obagaji, the local government headquarters, where people usually took refuge in the past, have been deserted.
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"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," a source at the local government confirmed.
Opiatoha K’Idoma, a socio-cultural organisation of Idoma sons and daughters, also issued a statement through its secretary, Adoka Adaji, where it stated that the crisis had created a huge refugee situation in the area.
The statement read: "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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Senator David Mark, a former Senate president who hails from Benue, has now called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently mobilise security apparatus to the area in order to put "a stop to the senseless carnage currently ravaging Agatu."
While lamenting the non-stop attacks on Agatu communities, Mark, who spoke through his special assistant, Benue liaison, Adakole Elijah, urged government to station soldiers in the area to check the attacks.
He also urged Benue and Nasarawa state governments to take steps to check the carnage.
Source: Legit.ng
