Agatu LG orders armed herdsmen to leave their land immediately

Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State is once again at the centre of a deepening security and humanitarian crisis, as the Chairman of the council, Hon. (Amb.) Melvin James Ejeh, takes a decisive and controversial step to halt the cycle of violence that has returned to the agrarian communities.

In a move that signals a major policy shift, the council has ordered all armed herdsmen to vacate Agatu land with immediate effect, while formally revoking the 2017 agreement that granted grazing access to Adapati Island.

For weeks, residents of Agatu have lived in fear as reports of violent attacks allegedly carried out by armed herdsmen spread across communities. Women and children have been killed, homes and farmlands destroyed, and hundreds of villagers forced to flee their ancestral homes.

Local sources say the latest wave of violence followed the movement of armed elements into Agatu after military airstrikes in parts of northern Nigeria, turning once-peaceful farming settlements into flashpoints of terror.

“This is no longer just a security issue; it is a humanitarian emergency,” a community leader said, describing scenes of displacement, trauma and uncertainty.

At the heart of the current crisis is the controversial 2017 agreement entered into by a former sole administrator of Agatu Local Government Council, which granted herdsmen access to Adapati Island for grazing.

According to Chairman Ejeh, the agreement was executed without the consent of the Agatu people and was presented as a peace-building initiative, but instead opened the door to years of insecurity.

“The agreement was never carried out in good faith,” Ejeh declared, describing its impact as devastating to the safety, livelihoods and food security of Agatu communities.

With immediate effect, the council chairman announced that the agreement has been revoked and declared “null and void,” insisting that no portion of Agatu land belongs to herdsmen under any guise.

In a strongly worded directive, the council ordered all armed herdsmen to leave Agatu land, stressing that the local government will no longer tolerate the presence of individuals whose actions threaten lives and livelihoods.

Agatu, Ejeh said, is an agrarian society whose survival depends on the protection of its farmlands.

“Our people must be able to farm, live and thrive without fear,” he said.

To ensure compliance with the exit order, security agencies have been directed to enforce the immediate evacuation of armed herdsmen from Agatu communities.

The chairman called on the Federal Government to deploy additional troops and police personnel, describing the existing security arrangement as inadequate to deal with the scale of the threat.

While commending Operation Whirl Stroke, Operation Anyam Nyor, the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for their efforts, Ejeh said the recent influx of armed elements demands a stronger and more sustained military response.

As part of efforts to dismantle criminal networks, the local government disclosed that some suspects have already been arrested and are undergoing investigation.

The chairman warned that anyone found aiding or abetting insecurity in Agatu would face the full weight of the law, with no room for political or ethnic sentiment.

Despite the tension, residents have been urged to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, as authorities intensify efforts to restore peace.

Chairman Ejeh also acknowledged the role of Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, commending his commitment to peace-building across the state.

For many in Agatu, the revocation of the Adapati Island agreement and the ejection order marks a defining moment — a bold attempt to reclaim ancestral land and halt years of bloodshed.

Whether the decision brings lasting peace will depend largely on enforcement, sustained security presence and genuine dialogue among stakeholders.

One thing, however, is clear: Agatu has drawn a line.

For a people weary of burying their dead and fleeing their homes, the message is unmistakable — enough is enough.