PHOTO: idomavoice.com
The Caretaker Chairman of Agatu Local Council, Joseph Ngbede, has urged the federal and Benue State governments to quickly intervene and assist the people of Agatu to enable the displaced persons return to their homes.
Ngbede, in a telephone interview commended the Federal Government for deploying soldiers to provide security in the ravaged communities in Agatu, but said most of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are unwilling to return home due to the challenge of where to lay their heads.
“The situation now is that there are soldiers deployed to provide security in all the settlements but my people are afraid to return because there is no shelter for them.”
“Again, the cows are still freely grazing in most of the villages, not yet evacuated by the herdsmen and so pose dangers to my people who are willing to return home,” he also stated.
The chairman said following his discussion with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of his council, more trucks of mobile police were deployed yesterday to the ravaged communities to assist move the cows from their domains to enable the people come back home.
Meanwhile, The Guardian learnt that in Logo Local Council of the state, over 40 persons are still missing in the area following the attack on some villages by Fulani herdsmen at the weekend and last Monday.
Affected persons in the area are said to be taking refuge in Anyiin, headquarters of the local council.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, said he was yet to be briefed on the attack in Logo but confirmed deployment of more mobile policemen to Agatu Local Council to maintain order.
Guardian