By Mike Odeh James and Olikita Ekani
BREAKING
credit: Mike Odeh James.
(Maiduguri) In a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s war against terrorism and armed banditry in Benue State, men of the Nigerian Navy under Operation Whirl Stroke, the Joint Military Taskforce in charge of Security of Benue, Taraba, Kogi and Nasarawa states, have arrested 13 Fulani terrorists who attacked Egwuma Precinct in Agatu County on Saturday, October 26, 2024.
The terrorists were arrested on Sunday, October 27, 2024 at Loko, a riverine community in Nasarawa State while crossing from Agatu County through the River Benue after the deadly attack.
TruthNigeria had earlier reported that, well-armed Fulani terrorists on 26th October, 2024, overran Egwuma Community, killing two persons, injuring one person and burning houses that were still standing after previous attacks.
The attack started at exactly 2 p.m. local time (13-hour GMT) when a delegation of the Fulani Ethnic group was having a meeting for security and peace jointly called by the Chairman of Agatu County, Melvin Ejeh and Operation Whirl Stroke, which also involved the Representatives of Agatu from Benue State, as well as those of Igala and Ibira ethnic groups drawn from neigbhoring Kogi and Nasarawa states respectively.
Benue indigenes have described the Sunday attacks as an affront to the peace efforts and an attempt aimed at scuttling the peace in the state.
How 13 terrorists were arrested
Confirming the arrest through a phone conversation sent to TruthNigeria, a Naval Officer in charge of the Operation, Alobo Emmanuel Joseph said, the terrorists were arrested while crossing from the Egwuma side of Agatu, which they had attacked, to Loko in Nasarawa State.
“We have a base in Loko that takes care of Security along River Benue. While we were carrying out surveillance, we saw a speedboat crossing from the Benue side of the River Benue to Loko in Nasarawa State. We drove our gunboat closer to theirs and asked them to stop. On searching their boat, we discovered an Air Force personnel cap and asked who was the owner of it?
“They denied the ownership. Suddenly, a phone started ringing from one of them, and we forcefully collected it and listened to the caller. What we heard was: “you joined Fulani to kidnap and kill our brothers, God will not forgive you, wicked people,” according to Officer Joseph.
“We tried to explain to the caller that we are Navy operatives who arrested those responsible for the death of your people on Saturday, but the caller never listened. I later sent my information to the caller, and eventually, they contacted us. We have also spoken with the Executive Chairman of Agatu Local Government (County), Melvin James Ejeh, and he also contacted us,” Officer Joseph said.
“13 of the terrorists that were arrested by our team on Sunday were all of Fulani Ethnic group,” Alobo Joseph concluded.
Brother of one of the victims speaks
Inspector Haruna Yusuf of the Nigerian Police Abuja, a native of Egwuma and a relative to one of the victims, who spoke with the leader of the Naval team, thanked Officer Alobo Joseph and his team for their efforts, saying he had addressed his people that they were speaking with the Military personnel that arrested the killers of their people and not kidnappers.
“The deceased, the owner of the phone was the breadwinner of his family, his father and two of his brothers were also killed by Fulani terrorists in the past. Please don’t be offended for the insult and wrong approaches used by our people while calling and talking to you through the deceased’s phone”, Inspector Haruna said.
Agatu County Chairman speaks
In an interview with TruthNigeria, Agatu County Chairman, Hon. Melvin James Ejeh, confirmed the arrest, saying arrested terrorists have since been moved to a secure place for further investigation.
“Yes, there was an attack on Egwuma Community on Saturday, some of the culprits have been arrested and more are being arrested. Security agencies are working tirelessly to get more information and arrest other culprits who are at large. I wish to assure the people of Agatu that the Security challenges ravaging the county will soon be a thing of the past,” Melvin said.
The Arrest a Turning Point?
The arrest of the 13 suspected terrorists may be a breakthrough in military response since the commencement of the war against terrorism and armed banditry 12 years ago in Agatu. TruthNigeria could find no public record documenting that previous attackers were prosecuted.
The latest attack marks the fifth time Fulani Ethnic Militias (FEM) have invaded the community within a space of 4 months – with devastating consequences.
The rampaging marauders had earlier attacked the restive Agatu community on Sunday, 14th July, 2024, on Sunday, 11th September, 2024 /, on Nigerian Independence Day, 1st October, 2024 and on the 10th October, 2024 /, killing many persons including, the Monarch of the Community.
The Fulani, a group known across West Africa for cattle-herding and involvement in regional jihad wars, have been linked to thousands of massacres in Nigeria. According to the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, the Fulani marauders have been responsible for 50,000 deaths in Nigeria during the last four years.
Attacks, kidnappings and killings by armed Fulani terrorists have continued unabated in several communities in Agatu and Gwer-West Counties of Benue State, most of them underreported by mainstream media in Nigeria.
Mike Odeh James and Ekani Olikita are conflict reporters for Truthnigeria.
