COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY APA AND AGATU DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIONS, AFTER THE TOWN HALL MEETING CONVENED BY THE MEMBER REPRESENTING APA/AGATU FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, HON. PST OJOTU OJEMA ON THE PERSISTENT ATTACKS AND KILLINGS BY HERDSMEN IN THE FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, HELD ON THE 29TH MARCH, 2024 AT ADA HALL MAKURDI.
Emmanuel Onuh
The persistent attacks on the Apart/Agatu Federal constituency of Benue State have continue to be a source of concern especially for the member Representing the constituency, Hon. Ojotu Ojema and as a means of seeking a lasting solution for peace to return to the constituency the member has put together a town hall meeting to look for avenues to end the persistent attacks.
At the end of the meeting these resolution were issued in a communique.
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY APA AND AGATU DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIONS, AFTER THE TOWN HALL MEETING CONVENED BY THE MEMBER REPRESENTING APA/AGATU FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, HON. PST OJOTU OJEMA ON THE PERSISTENT ATTACKS AND KILLINGS BY HERDSMEN IN THE FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, HELD ON THE 29TH MARCH, 2024 AT ADA HALL MAKURDI.
After series of interactions and deliberations on the lingering daily attacks and killings by Fulani Herdsmen in several communities in Apa and Agatu LGAs by members of Apa and Agatu Development Associations (ADAs) on Friday, 29th March, 2024, the following Resolutions were reached;
(1) The meeting condemns in strong terms, the renewed daily attacks and killings in several communities in Apa and Agatu LGAs.
(2) The meeting notes that the resurgent carnage by the marauders is a conquest mission that was tried in the past and failed, saying this latest one will still fail as usual.
(3) The meeting wonders why the atrocious activities of the armed Herdsmen can not be curtailed despite the deployment of military and other security personnel.
(4) The meeting notes with great pain that the affected communities have been ransacked by the attackers and are currently being occupied by the invaders without much efforts of the government and security agencies to nib it in the bud.
(5) The meeting calls on the Federal Government to establish military bases at strategic Riverine communities of both Benue and Nasarawa States to checkmate the influx of the attackers who are mostly crossing from Nasarawa State to Benue axis through the River Benue.
(6) The meeting resolves that, armed Herdsmen currently camping at the border communities of Gwer West, sharing borders with Agatu, Apa and Otukpo (Adoka) are mostly responsible for the ceaseless carnage Apa, Agatu and Adoka communities in Otukpo, necessitating quick actions of the security agencies.
(7) The meeting notes with great confusion while no inhabitant of Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency is allowed to carry automatic weapons, even when Fulani herdsmen are going about with sophisticated weapons such as RPG launchers and anti-aircraft guns without being challenged by security forces. An act which makes people to suspect security forces of being compromised.
(8) The meeting notes that, most of the attackers are foreign Jihadists whose primary aims are to drive our people from their ancestral homes and takeover the lands. President Tinubu and Gov Alia are encouraged to take decisive actions to prevent them from achieving their goals.
(9) The meeting warns that, should this carnage continues, the people will be tempted to look for other lawful options to defend themselves.
(10) Finally, the meeting calls for unity among Apa and Agatu people and the need to support their leaders to succeed instead of pulling them down. The meeting acknowledges the tangible efforts of the House of Representatives Member for Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency Pastor Ojotu Ojema for convening the joint meeting and pledged unalloyed support to him since he has not failed the people.
Jointly signed by;
Hon. Mathew Efoga
Chairman Agatu Development Association (ADA).
Barr Eche Akpoko
Chairman Apa Development Association (ADA).
