Biafra: Agatu Community Leaders Distance Selves From Suit Against FG

Leaders from Agatu community in Benue State, which was burnt down during the armed herdsmen attacks in 2015 and 2016, have distanced themselves from a suit filed against the Federal Government at the ECOWAS 

In the suit, the plaintiffs are seeking compensation for victims of the attacks.

The group led by Mr Isa Usman at a briefing in Makurdi on Tuesday, gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the plaintiffs who they accused of forgery and impersonation to withdraw the suit or face legal action.

They claimed that five out of the six plaintiffs were not indigenes of Agatu.

Mr Usman said that Agatu people had not briefed anybody to file the suit against the Federal Government, noting that they are satisfied with the government’s response to the crisis and the overall capital projects being executed in Agatu land to cushion the effects of the crisis.

Herdsmen bearing arms had sacked residence of Egba village in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, killing over 90 persons, including women and children, in the early hours of March 15, 2015.

The attack by the insurgents, according to local sources, began at about 4:0 a.m. when the herdsmen stormed the village, killing their unsuspecting victims, most of whom were fast asleep, after which they razed the community, destroying economic trees, food barns and farmland.

The herdsmen were said to have gained access into the community from Loko in neighbouring Nasarawa State, and started shooting and breaking into people’s houses, hauling down whoever they met, including women and children, leaving behind a death camp.

After the attack, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the Agatu crisis, asked the state government to beef up security at the Apa IDPs’ camp to prevent further attacks, amidst challenges of food shortage and lack of medical aids.

A traditional ruler in Apa Local Government Area, Mr John Anteyi, made the demand on behalf of the IDPs, whom he said were vulnerable to further attacks and lacking basic needs.

Responding to the request, the state government represented by the Commissioner of Finance, David Olofu, said intelligence had been passed on to security agencies to act accordingly.

He assured the IDPs of immediate security response to the area for protection.

On his part, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, pledge to rebuild destroyed public utilities in Agatu and other local government areas affected by the herdsmen attacks in Benue State.

General Olonisakin made the pledge in Agatu while on a fact finding visit to communities and other local government areas like Buruku and Tarka where many lives were lost in the wake of the herdsmen attacks.

Represented by Major General Edward Nze and a crack military team, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) promised more deployment of both the Navy and Air Force to support the troops on ground to enable the locals take statistics of their losses.

The military team deployed by the CDS to investigate the three months long attacks on Benue communities at a meeting with the Deputy Governor of the State, Benson Abounu.

Source: channelstv.com