Herdsmen, Agatu farmers sign peace accord to end crisis

Sides to the crisis in Agatu, Benue state, which has seen clashes between Idoma resident farmers and Fulani nomadic herdsmen grazing cattle in the community have agreed to immediately cease all hostilities. A townhall meeting brokered last week between the 1 Idoma Inititative and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has resolved […]

Sides to the crisis in Agatu, Benue state, which has seen clashes between Idoma resident farmers and Fulani nomadic herdsmen grazing cattle in the community have agreed to immediately cease all hostilities.

A townhall meeting brokered last week between the 1 Idoma Inititative and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has resolved MACBAN will direct immediate withdrawal of all herdsmen from Agatu across the border to Nasarawa state while both sides continue dialogue toward a peaceful resolution.

Youths in Agatu will also desist from patrolling the river bank until "better understanding is sought between the two parties," both sides announced at a joint press conference in Abuja, days after the townhall meeting.

They are asking federal agriculture ministry to consider grazing reserves and map out primary, secondary and tertiary cattle routes, with possible legislative backing, to avoid future conflicts between nomadic farmers and resident farmers.

Both sides have condemned the proliferation of firearms in either community and pledged support for federal, Benue and Nasarawa government to encourage both sides lay down their arms.

Leadership of both MACBAN and 1 Idoma Initiative signed peace documents at the weekend and will be part of a committee set up by the federal government to investigate the cause of the crisis and find a solution.

The committee will also be mandated to ascertain the level of destruction of lives and properties from both sides, according to the peace agreement.

The 1 Idoma Initiative convener Paul Edeh and MACBAN president Muhammadu Kiruwa, alongside MACBAN secretary Baba Othman Ngelzarma and Christian Enenche, president of Agatu Network forum, signed the document.

The two sides recommend for federal government to begin reconstruction, to rehabilitate and reintegrate people displaced from Agatu and compensate herdsmen who lost cattle in the crisis.

Both groups will make up a joint team to face off against the Super Eagles in a football match to raise awareness for peace and raise funds to pay for reconstruction of property destroyed in the clashes, according to the document.

They also want federal support for campaigns to enhance "spirit of brotherhood, love and tolerance" among youths of both communities.

Meanwhile both group have requested Benue state governor Samuel Ortom and his cabinet to visit the area for "on-the-spot assessment of the situation" to ensure rapid development starts and helps in pacifying communities that have lost loved ones and property in the crisis.

They said an official delegation is yet to visit the area since the start of clashes which has claimed the lives of many farmers, herdsmen and cattle and caused destruction of property in Agatu.