Youths Fight Back in Brave Resistance
By Mike Odeh James and Olikita Ekani
(Makurdi) Tragedy struck on Sunday, July 14, 2024, as Fulani terrorists continued their reign of terror in Benue State, attacking the Christian community of Egwuma.
The peaceful Sunday morning was shattered when the terrorists descended upon Egwuma, a majority-Catholic community in Agatu County, 45 miles southwest of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
“The terrorists, up to 20 in number, appeared from the forests of Egwuma on motorbikes, wielding automatic rifles, and started shooting indiscriminately. The carnage lasted for over 1 hour and 30 minutes, leaving innocent lives shattered and families torn apart,” eyewitness Andy Itodo said to TruthNigeria.
“The worst part was that we were in our churches when the terrorists attacked us. We were not prepared,” Itodo explained. Another eyewitness, Mr. Gideon Ehoda, painted a grim picture:
“It was a rainy, cold morning. Many of us had barely made it out of bed to prepare for Sunday mass when the terrorists waited for us to get inside the church first.”
“Our community was invaded from all sides while our people were attending Sunday services in various churches and our youths were meeting nearby,” Ehoda added. “They showed no mercy as they gunned down seven of our youths before they retreated to the bush.”
Attackers Were Fulani Tribe, Chanted Allahu Akbar
Witnesses and residents of Egwuma told TruthNigeria that the attackers were Fulanis who did not hide their identities. “Even as they were shooting into the churches and people were running away, they (the attackers) were chanting Allahu Akbar and speaking in Fulani,” said Mary Otache, a 36-year-old trader.
“The attackers were Fulani from neighboring Nasarawa and Kogi States, hell-bent on overrunning our community and gaining access to other nearby communities. They spoke Fulani throughout their evil operation,” Ehoda said. The ethnic cleansing attacks by Fulani militia armed with rifles against poorly armed local farmers, has made Agatu County a “killing field” since 2013, according to Vanguard newspaper. Such attacks have been summed up as “communal clashes” in the annual Religious Freedom report of the U.S. Department of State.
Eyewitness Andy Itodo added, “It is a Jihad war against us because the attackers always chant Allahu Akhbar anytime they are attacking our community, and they don’t come with their cattle. This is the third time they have attacked our community.” News stories often attribute ethnic cleansing attacks to “herders,” although the gunmen roar into villages with no cattle in sight, but riding on motorbikes, according to locals.
Agatu Youths Fight Back
Even as the attackers came armed with AK 47 assault rifles, young adults from neighboring villages heard shots and ran to rescue the Egwuma community. Though armed only with locally made shotguns, the Agatu youths engaged the well-armed terrorists for two hours before they retreated.
“When we heard the sounds of machine guns coming from Egwuma, we knew it was the Fulani terrorists, so we mobilized and headed to Egwuma. We understand their tactics, so we waited and lay down in the bush,” said Augustus Adaji, 28, a vigilante leader from Agbabe.
Adaji continued: “When they thought they had gotten the upper hand, we shot at them, and I know that I personally hit two of the terrorists. My colleagues shot many. Initially, they tried to resist us, but they broke up, and some fled on foot, leaving their bikes and guns. Others left with their guns while engaging us.”
Samson Odekwu told TruthNigeria: “We waited for them in the bush, knowing that they would pass by. As they came close, we fired at them, and many of them dropped their weapons in shock and fled. We pursued them, but of course, they had superior guns and were able to escape.”
“But from the blood on the ground where we engaged them, we are sure many of them would die from gunshots,” Odekwu said, adding, “They left about five guns and two bikes, which the military took away for investigation.”
Military Slow to Intervene
Residents of the beleaguered community told TruthNigeria that the military was slow in responding to distress calls. “The military came very late; that would be after one hour of gunfights between the terrorists and the Agatu vigilante group,” said Ehoda.
He added, “The army came later in the evening, after the departure of the attackers. A mass burial was conducted for the seven victims, and the army left immediately.”
Confirming the attack to TruthNigeria, Hon. Gideon Ademu, a youth leader from the precinct and former Special Adviser on Special Duties to the Agatu County Chairman, said: “We were in the church during Sunday service when Fulani militias invaded our precinct, shooting sporadically from everywhere. Our few youths who were on the ground were able to repel the attackers.”
Ademu continued, “We called the police and the military, but they only turned up after the attack was over.”
Egwuma Lost 12 Persons
After the attackers left, 12 persons were found dead and 11 wounded. The deceased have been buried, and the wounded are receiving treatment at nearby medical facilities. “It was a well-organized attack that lasted for about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Our people were taken unaware by the Fulani militias. We have just recovered and buried the 12 people killed by the invaders,” according to Saidu Umar, an aide to the county chairman, in a telephone interview:
Lawmakers Decry Ethnic Cleansing to TruthNigeria
Godwin Abu Edoh, the Member representing Agatu State Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, put the total number of deaths at 12.
“As I am talking to you, Fulani herdsmen have displaced all the inhabitants of the villages sharing borders with Egwuma, such as Ogbumogbo, Ejima, Ikpele, and others. The marauders are now roaming about in the deserted villages freely, and the security agencies are not doing anything to flush them out and restore security so that the people can return to their homes.”
Edoh called on the Federal Government to take decisive action to restore security to the area.
Ojotu Ojema, the Federal Lawmaker representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, condemned the attack. He called on the Federal Government to wake up and live up to its primary responsibility of protecting lives and property.
“The motives behind the attacks is to make sure the Agatus are dispossessed of the land, Ojema recently told Truthnigeria
Mike Odeh James and Olikita Ekani are conflict reporters for TruthNigeria.
