Ex- Kogi council boss Aduojo blames alleged attack by Fulani herders at Agojeju-Odo; Ajokpachi-Odo, Bagana …..raises alarm of another alleged attack in the area

By Admin

Former Caretaker Chairman of Omala local council of Kogi state, Dr. Jerome Aduojo has blamed Fulani herders for the killing of no fewer than 21 persons in Agojeju-Odo; Ajokpachi-Odo abagana areas of the state.

Aduojo in a statement claimed that the people of the affected area and neighbouring communities have deserted their own ancestral lands to seek refuge in – Abejukolo-Ife, the Omala local council headquarter with no Internally displaced persons (IDP) centres on ground.

Aduojo who is the President Ojone Foundation Nigeria further raised the alarm alleging that the fulanis are regrouping for another round of attacks on defenceless citizens of the local government area.

He thereby called for the Immediate deployment of security operatives to Agojeju-Odo; Ajokpachi-Odo and Bagana.

He further called for the immediate release of relief materials to the Survivors through the ADA National President – Mr. Benjamin Isah aka Dino; the Community Leader – Comrade Elias Atabo.

Besides, he called for the establishment of a Police Station in Agojeju-Odo and Ajokpachi-Odo, the establishment of a Military base and Naval Out Post at Bagana and a mobile police unit at Idrisu or Agbenema -Ife.

He also called for a full scale federal Investigation into the crisis, deaths and destruction of farmlands, properties and human lives in Bagana District; Agojeju-Odo; Obakume and Agbenema -Ife , with government intervention and compensation for the victims.

Reminiscing the circumstances that led to the attack on the community, he said it is unfortunate that the people of Agojeju-Odo; Ajokpachi-Odo, Bagana have been left to their fate since the ugly incidence occured.

According to him: “The Fulani-Herdsmen and Militias had been attacking Bagana and the Agatus in Benue State since 2013. This led to the destruction of lands; Properties and innocent, unarmed Lives in Omala LGA.

“Bagana District is a ghost town today which the Fulani-Herdsmen and their Militias are using as their base to attack the Agatus passing through Agojeju-Odo and Ajokpachi-Odo (the immediate boundary town of Omala LGA with the Agatus in Benue State)

” The Ajokpachi-Odo people are under Protection agreement with the Agatus, hence the Fulani -herders cannot take their cattles to the Community. The Omala LGC Caretaker Chairman entered a Coexistence agreement with the Myetti Allah Organization in Omala LGA, and part of the agreement was that the Fulanis should not graze their cattles to Agojeju-Odo and neighbouring Odo Communities to avoid conflicts with the Agatus. Which they agreed and signed.

“The Fulanis kept flaunting the agreement and their hired Militias kept going to attack the Agatus. The Agatus in reprisal attack will kill their cattles grazing on our lands.

“The Fulanis wicked belief and guiding principle is to shade blood no matter whose blood is spilled, will transfer their aggression of their cattles killed on the Lives and Properties of Agojeju-Odo people, claiming that, it is our responsibility to inform them of what they Agatus did to their cattles.

” The Fulani -herders and their Hired Militias keep moving about with their deadly weapons of Cutlasses, guns, AK-47, without confrontation. They have destroyed the peoples farmlands including their crops, and starvation is already afflicting the people.

“The rains are here but our people cannot go to their God given farms, for fear of the Fulani -herders attacking and killing them. Who will cushion the the lives of children being suddenly made orphans by the killing of their parents by this wicked and in-human Fulani -herders and their Hired Militias???.
“The people of Agojeju-Odo and neighbouring Communities have deserted their own ancestral lands to go as refugees in the LGA headquarters – Abejukolo-Ife with no IDP Centres nor where to stay. The Fulanis are regrouping for what the call the Mother of all attacks, by destroying and burning down any structures, buildings, properties and human beings in their next attack.”

Continuing , he claimed: “Do you know that from the report given to me from people I contacted even in some quarters of government and security agencies, the issue is being wickedly down played and reduced to just communal clashes.
“The Kogi State government did not mentioned anything like Fulanis or bandits hence, the Federal Government s levity to the matter. Do you know that SEMA s request for relief materials for us from NEMA was even ridiculously reduced to a painful number of survivors?

” Now the Kogi State government wants to start arresting people and community leaders in the area to now proof to federal government and security agencies that the have apprehended the culprits of the killings?”