As Fulani Apologize to Agatu Residents For Atrocities
By Olikita Ekani
Leaders of warring tribes on the border of Nasarawa and Benue States have proclaimed a peace agreement, the second of its kind since bloody clashes began in 2013.
The First Peace Agreement between the two groups was signed in 2017.
The signing of the Second Peace Accord, which took place in Obagaji, Agatu County Headquarter on Friday, 3rd January, 2025, came after a series of peace meetings held by leaders of Agatu, Fulani, Igala and Ibira tribes from the neighbouring Kogi and Nasarawa States.
Leaders of the Agatu, a predominantly Christian Ethnic group of the Idoma tribe in South Benue bordering Nasarawa State, have complained of relentless attacks, kidnappings and killings by the predominantly Muslim Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) who chiefly originated from northeastern and northwestern states as well as other African countries.
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 caused more than 50,000 deaths in Nigeria during the last four years.
The First Peace Agreement
The first Peace Agreement between the two groups was signed in 2017 and was supervised by then Governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom and his counterpart from Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura. Their agreement reportedly failed to bring any positive result, but rather was followed by severe violence and wanton killings, destructions and displacement of thousands of Agatu inhabitants.
Just a few days after the signing of the first agreement, agitators, under the Forum of Victims of Herdsmen Attacks in Agatu and the Benue South Peace Network rejected the Peace Agreement, arguing that the deal lacked measures to guarantee genuine peace, reconciliation and rehabilitation.
Six years after supervising the signing of the Peace Agreement in 2017, Gov. Ortom in 2023 cried out for help to head off continued massacres of Benue citizens, describing the killing of 5,000 Benue residents by Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) as an “organized genocide.”
Beginning of Agatu Crisis
The Agatu Crisis, also known as the “Agatu Massacre,” began in 2013, following coordinated attacks on the Christian communities of Okokolo, Ocholonya, Abugbe, Akpeko, Adana on May 5, 2013 by Muslim Fulani Ethnic Militia armed with automatic weapons. Clashes between FEM and Agatu armed militias reportedly killed 500 people in 2016, according to pro-Christian media.
Main Causes of the Crisis
The crisis was caused by Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) to forcefully send the locals (Agatu) away from their ancestral homes, takeover their fertile land for cattle grazing and establish and Islamic caliphate, according to Agatu militia men who asked for anonymity from TruthNigeria.
The escalation of the killings in Agatu and other counties in Benue State by FEM led to the formation of Agatu Ethnic Militia (AEM) popularly known as “Agatu Youth” and that of the Tiv tribe, (the 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria), known as Tiv Ethnic Militia (TEM) in order to counter Fulani’s aggressions in 2016.
The Agatu Militia, including thousands of volunteer fighters, according to Benue locals, began their counterattacks with home-made shotguns but acquired automatic weapons in 2016. The Fulani militia that year were armed with heavy weapons such as anti-aircraft guns, general purpose machine guns (GPMG), Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG), machine guns (MG), and small machine guns (SMGs) – a transformation that dramatically increased fatalities.
The abduction and beheading of Fulani chiefs (Ardos), Shehu Abdullahi and Madaki by Tiv Militia and Agatu militia respectively from Ocholonya (Agatu Community), intensified the crisis to the highest level in 2016
6000 people killed between 2013 and 2017
By the beginning of 2017 when the first Peace Agreement between Agatu and Fulani was signed, 3,920 persons had been killed in several Agatu Communities and 2,000 others had perished at various Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camps, totalling almost 6000, according to Honourable Michael Inalegwu, the Sole Administrator of Agatu County at the time.
Efforts leading to the Second Peace Agreement
In November 2024, an informal Peace agreement was reached due to the concerted efforts by Melvin James Ejeh, Agatu County Chairman and Bishop Isaac Bundepuun Dugu of the Catholic Diocese of Katsina-Ala, returning fragile Peace to the State after so many years of combat.
During the long-hoped-for peace meeting, Melvin James Ejeh, Chairman of Agatu County, demanded that the two warring groups forgive themselves, drop their arms, embrace peace and identify criminal elements among them.
Fulani Chiefs Apologize to Agatu for Past Atrocities
Speaking on behalf of one of the two nationally-known Fulani Ethnic groups, the Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Risku Mohammed, gave an unqualified apology for atrocities his people had committed and begged for forgiveness so that they could return back and live together in peace with Agatu.
Agatu King expresses support for the Peace Initiative
In his speech on behalf of Agatu, the District Head of Obagaji, HRH Chief Ankeli Benjamin, lauded the efforts of the Benue State Government led by the Agatu County Chairman, Melvin James Ejeh, promising to support the Peace Move.
Agatu Residents Express Doubts
Expressing their reservation about the efficacy of the signed Peace Agreement, residents of Agatu County, John Olotu and Echewija Ochohepo said, Fulani herdsmen cannot be trusted.
“A similar Peace Agreement was signed in 2017 but was violated a few days later, resulting in the killing of so many people. This latest one may follow suit”, Olotu said
“As long as the herdsmen are not mandated to come along with their wives as one of the conditions for their return to Agatu, the agreement won’t last long,” Echewija told TruthNigeria.
With the formal signing of the latest Peace Agreement, the people of the troubled county are hoping that a long-lasting peace can be sustained.
Ekani Olikita is a Conflict Reporter with TruthNigeria
Peace must return to Agatu and the entire Benue State