Forgive the Fulani herdsmen, vengeance is for God – Benue state governor tells Agatu people
- Benue state governor has urged the people of Agatu local government area to forgive the Fulani people who were accused of attacking them and destroying their homes
- He also advised the Agatu people to let Fulani men who were born in the area return home
Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has called on the Agatu people of Benue state to forgive the Fulani people who pillaged their homes and killed several people during a communal fight.
He enjoined the Agatu to give peace a chance and cohabit with indigenous Fulani as was the case before the communal fight.
Forgive the Fulani herdsmen - Benue state governor begs Agatu people
Governor Ortom made this call during his visit alongside Nasarawa state governor, Tanko Umaru Al-Makura, to Agatu local government area on Wednesday, January 18.
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Both governors were in Obagaji for a peace meeting aimed at finding a lasting solution to the crisis in the area.
Speaking, Ortom lamented what he described as the massive and unprecedented destruction of Agatu and killings by herdsmen but stressed that there was no alternative to peace for development and progress to take place.
The governor appealed to the Agatu people to forgive and allow the Fulanis who were born in the land to return, stressing that the Bible admonishes that vengeance belongs to God.
Ortom reiterated his earlier stance that ranching remains the best approach to ending farmers and herdsmen crises across the country.
The chairman of Miyetti Allah in Nasarawa state, Mohammed Hussein, while speaking on behalf of the Fulani people, appealed for forgiveness.
Hussein promised that his people would abide by the resolutions taken by the security councils to ensure peace returns to the area.
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The communal dispute between the Agatu people and the Fulani people of Agatu local government has led to the death of several people and uncountable destruction of homes and farmlands.
Meanwhile, the Emir of Jema’a (kafancha) was attacked on January 17 by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
The emir was returning to Kafanchan after a security meeting with the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, concerning the violence in southern Kaduna when he was attacked.
Though the traditional ruler escaped by the whiskers, three of his cars which were in the convoy in which he was travelling were destroyed by the rampaging attackers.