In
a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the leadership of the
cattle breeders and prominent Agatu farmers resolved on the immediate
cessation of hostilities between the Idoma in Agatu and the Fulani
nomadic community carrying out grazing activities in the area.
Finally, the prolonged violent crises between cattle breeders and
farmers in Agatu land, Benue State, which have claimed several lives and
property, may have been laid to rest.
This is because the warring
parties have agreed to sheath their swords and embrace peace at a town
hall meeting held in Abuja to find a lasting solution to the crisis.
At a
joint world press conference by the two parties, the national
leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria
(MACBAN) was directed to order its Benue and Nasarawa States chapters to
immediately order all Fulani herdsmen carrying out grazing activities
in Agatu to immediately withdraw and move to Nasarawa State while
dialogue towards the peaceful resolution of the conflict is ongoing.
Agatu
youths, the communiqué read at the conference further stated, should
desist from patrolling the river banks until when better understanding
is achieved between the two parties.
The communiqué also urged the
federal government to set up a high powered committee that will include
the leadership of the Idoma Initiative and MACBAN to comprehensively
look into the immediate and remote causes of the crisis with the view of
finding a lasting solution to the crisis.
The suggested committee
should also be mandated to ascertain the level of destruction of lives
and property on both sides with a view to giving adequate compensation.
“The
federal government should draw up a road map to commence the immediate
reconstruction, rehabilitation and re-integration of the Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Agatu back to their various communities.
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