Benue State House of Assembly member, Godwin Edoh, is calling on influential figures and security forces to intervene in the relentless attacks on the Agatu community. During a recent tour of the areas affected by brutal herdsmen assaults, Edoh urged President Tinubu, Governor Hyacinth Alia, and security agencies to put an end to the ongoing bloodshed.
Expressing outrage at the barbaric attacks on the defenseless Agatu natives, Edoh decried the extensive destruction inflicted upon the community. Accompanied by a joint security patrol team, he visited the impacted areas to assess the devastation and stand in solidarity with the affected residents.
Edoh highlighted the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the mass exodus of women and children from communities such as Ikpelle Gochi, Ikpelle Gope, Ogwumogbo, Ejima Gega, and Ejima Geche due to the attacks. He revealed that these areas have remained deserted since previous assaults, with armed herdsmen occupying the villages.
The lawmaker recounted a recent attack on Okokolo, which resulted in fatalities and widespread property damage, leading residents of neighboring Ikpelle to flee in fear of becoming the next targets. In response, Edoh conveyed the community’s urgent plea for President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Governor Rev. Hyacinth Alia to deploy military forces at the vulnerable borders, to prevent further bloodshed.
Edoh assured the community of his commitment to prioritize the issue, both through legislative action and by seeking relief for the affected areas. He pledged to present a motion at the Benue State House of Assembly and to engage the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide essential aid to the stricken communities.
Emphasizing the need for united action, Edoh announced plans for a stakeholders’ meeting to strategize legal and legitimate defense mechanisms for safeguarding Agatu from future incursions.
The lawmaker’s impassioned plea reflects the grave humanitarian crisis in Benue and underscores the imperative for swift and concerted intervention to protect the lives and lands of the Agatu community.
