As agitation to stop the Benue State Government from ceding Agatu lands to Fulani herdsmen for grazing continues to gather momentum; the state government has, yet, made another shocking revelation, that arrangements were underway, to provide security for the Fulani herdsmen and their cattle during grazing.

To make this possible, the state government said the Military Authority has been contacted, to mobilise fully armed personnel to the area, for protection.


The deputy Governor of Benue State, Engr. Benson Abounu made this known while addressing newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.

He, however, denied that the state Government ever sold the portion of land to Fulani herdsmen, stressing that it was the people of Agatu who entered into agreement with the Fulani herders on ceding of lands.

“The agreement to allow cattle of the Fulani people who are known to the Agatu graze on that piece of land does not transfer ownership of the island to the Fulani,” Abounu said.

Engr. Abounu also said the people of Agatu were ably represented in the peace summit where the agreement was signed.


He said, “the peace treaty as contained in the communiqué issued after the joint State Security Council meeting was a mutual agreement between the Agatu and Fulani people.

“It was not forced on the Agatu people as all that were contained therein came from the position of the Agatu people themselves as delivered by their representatives in the person of Mr. Akpa Idu”.

The deputy Governor, therefore, made the position of the state government clear on the provision of security for the Herders and their cattle, to avoid any attack from the people of Agatu.

“Arrangements was also made with the Nigerian Army to provide armed soldiers to watch the cows while grazing in order to prevent further movement from the island,” Abounu added.


DAILY POST recalls that the ceding of “ancestral lands” of Agatu people has elicited controversies in the past one week.

The state Governor, Samuel Ortom was reported to have connived with the Sole Administrator of Agatu LGA, Michael Inalegwu and the Ad’Agatu, Chief Godwin Onah to sign the agreement for lease of land to Fulani herdsmen.

Irked by the decision of the government and some stakeholders, the Agatu Area Traditional Council and the entire people of Agatu petitioned the House of Representatives, asking for the prompt intervention of the government.

In the petition which was signed by 17 stakeholders, including the Reps Member, Hon. Adamu Entonu, the 10 District Heads, representing the 10 council Wards of Agatu; the people described as “dangerous and despicable transaction “, the purported agreement signed by those whom they refered to as ” fake ” and ” irrelevant ” stakeholders, on behalf of Agatu community.

http://dailypost.ng/2017/01/25/agatu-land-deal-benue-govt-seeks-military-protection-fulani-herdsmen-cows/?utm_source=snap_dp1&utm_medium=twitter

Iranu.....this is really nonsense

Can you imagine

God why did I find myself a Nigerian

This seems ok to me. If the local state and citezens seem ok with this measure. I wonder if they had a vote on it

That Benue state governor is worse than scum. He is perhaps the most worthless among the present crop of governors.

With the way herdsmen invaded Agatu and slaughtered them in the hundreds, he still went ahead to sign any form of agreement with them over land tenure.

What Benue people has witnessed so far will be child's play compared with what will be unleashed upon them soon. They have given demonic herdsmen a legal backing over land matters, and that's a prelude to their forfeiting their ancestral lands in the near future.
I have lost every empathy for them. Bunch of yellow bellied, lilly livered savants.

In 2 BABA VOICE they (politicians)don't really care about us, this Ortom of a man is worst than Suswan, I weep 4 my poor Benue, Chai Benue don enter real One Chance

Blue3k:
This seems ok to me. If the local state and citezens seem ok with this measure. I wonder if they had a vote on it

okay? are you for real? To use the military to forcefully take Agatu lands for grazing? How on earth did we end here?

Is this so called governor sane at all? Protecting the aggressor while leaving the vunerable ones & forcing them out of their ancestral lands? This is wickedness. Chai diaris Goduo! BTW check my signature if you want to buy land in Owerri.

Chuksonyeike:


okay? are you for real? To use the military to forcefully take Agatu lands for grazing? How on earth did we end here?

Oh I guess I misread the vibe. I assume your Benue citezen. Anyway I don't get why government state or local like putting themselves ain opposition to people. They should have put this to vote within the LG of Agatu. They vote on proposition for land.

Lol, did I read right? The Government is asking for military protection for the murderers? . What kind of people are Benue people? You joined northern governors to say it's Mali and Senegal herdsmen killing your people and yet you want to provide military protection for them.Are you cursed or sick in the head or something cause Ayam not understanding