2027: Benue lawmaker raises the alarm over insecurity

A lawmaker representing Agatu state constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Godwin Edoh, has raised the alarm that conducting the 2027 general elections in Agatu Local Government Area of the state may be difficult unless the government decisively tackles the incessant attacks on the people of the area.

Edo, who represents the Agatu State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, spoke with journalists in Makurdi on Monday.

While decrying the insecurity in the local government, the lawmaker noted that for the past four years, several communities in the council had been deserted due to recurring Fulani herdsmen attacks.

He said, “As I speak to you now, in Obagaji (headquarters of Agatu), for instance, we have deployment of Air Force, soldiers, special police squad and Civil Defence personnel.

“Despite the presence of these security agents, all the people from the hinterlands have relocated to the LG headquarters in Obagaji.

“Some of those villages in the hinterland have been deserted, the people can no longer engage in farming and fishing because those are the two sources of livelihood in the council.

“My fear is that if this attack continues unchecked, it will be difficult for the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct the 2027 general elections in the areas, because they are not accessible right now.”

Edoh lamented that all basic amenities in the affected communities, such as schools, markets and primary healthcare centres, have been destroyed by the attackers.

The lawmaker lauded the directive by the state governor, Hyacinth Alia, directing security agents to flush out criminal elements in the forest that are terrorising the people of the local government.

He expressed optimism that if the governor’s directive is diligently carried out, it will help reduce the attacks and allow the people to return to their ancestral homes.

Edoh also appealed to both federal and state governments to include the local government in the ongoing housing scheme for internally displaced persons to help them return home and start a new life.

A few weeks ago, hundreds of IDPs who had taken refuge in Obagaji, the council headquarters, had protested against their continuous stay in IDP camps and their inability to access their homes and farms.

They called on the state and federal governments to come to their aid so as to be able to return to their ancestral homes after several years in IDP camps.