By Aminu Adamu
The recent massacre in Okpamaju, Otukpo LGA, further exposes the fragility of the so-called peace accord
The recent peace accord between the Agatu communities and Fulani herdsmen, orchestrated under the directive of Governor Hyacinth Alia and facilitated by Agatu Local Government Chairman James Melvin Ejeh, has not only collapsed but has seemingly exacerbated the crisis in Benue State.
Instead of fostering harmony, this initiative has led to increased fear and displacement among the Agatu people, raising critical questions about the government’s role and the true intentions behind the accord.
In January 2025, leaders from both Agatu and the Fulani herdsmen engaged in a dialogue aimed at ending decades of hostilities.
The meeting, held in Obagaji, Agatu’s headquarters, concluded with both parties pledging to expose and report criminal elements threatening peace in the area.
The Fulani representatives expressed their commitment to peaceful coexistence, emphasizing their deep-rooted ties to the region.
District Head of Agatu, Chief Benjamin Akau, lauded the initiative, highlighting the community’s collective desire for lasting peace.
However, the optimism was short-lived. Reports soon emerged of Fulani herdsmen disregarding the agreed-upon conditions for resettlement, which included unarmed return and designated grazing areas.
Instead, they began occupying villages without restraint, turning once-thriving communities into ghost towns.
Villages such as Odugbo and Edikwu witnessed herdsmen operating in shifts—some grazing cattle by night, others patrolling by day—rendering farming impossible and instilling a pervasive sense of fear among residents.
Chairman Ejeh has publicly denied allegations of inviting Fulani herdsmen to graze freely in Agatu, reaffirming his commitment to maintaining peace and security.
During a visit to the Agatu Development Association in Makurdi, he emphasized that no agreement permitted the occupation of any Agatu community by herdsmen. Ejeh highlighted his administration’s efforts in arresting both criminal herdsmen and other perpetrators of violence, underscoring a dedication to restoring peace.
Despite these assurances, the reality on the ground tells a different story.
The Anti-Open Grazing Law, once a protective measure for Benue communities, appears to have been sidelined, allowing for unchecked encroachment.
The government’s silence and inaction have been interpreted by many as complicity in the gradual displacement of the Agatu people.
Political representatives, notably Ojotu Ojema, have been conspicuously silent, failing to address the escalating crisis and leaving their constituents feeling abandoned.
The recent massacre in Okpamaju, Otukpo LGA, further exposes the fragility of the so-called peace accord.
If genuine reconciliation had been achieved, such tragedies would be averted. The Idoma diaspora has condemned the situation, warning that the developments in Apa are a deliberate strategy of displacement under the pretext of peace.
Human rights activists echo this sentiment, describing the situation as a slow-motion conquest aimed at establishing Fulani control over the region.
In the face of these challenges, the resilience of the Agatu people is being tested.
The pressing question remains: will they accept this orchestrated fate, or will they rise against the forces determined to erase their heritage and claim their ancestral lands?
The answer lies not only in the actions of the Agatu community but also in the response of a government that must choose between genuine protection of its citizens and the dangerous path of political expediency.
