By Muhammad Mamman
Authorities in Nigeria’s Benue State have ordered herders to vacate Agatu Local Government Area with immediate effect following renewed violence that has left residents killed, injured and displaced.
The directive was issued on Tuesday by the chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Melvin Ejeh, after a series of attacks on rural communities in the area, according to local officials.
Ejeh said the decision was taken to prevent further bloodshed and to restore calm to communities that have faced repeated violence in recent weeks. He accused armed attackers, believed to be linked to herding groups, of carrying out assaults on farmlands and villages.
“We can no longer watch our people live in fear or be attacked in their own homes,” Ejeh said, adding that the safety of residents remained the local government’s top priority.
Benue State, located in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has long been a flashpoint for clashes between farmers and herders, often driven by competition over land and water resources. The conflicts have been exacerbated by climate pressures, population growth and the spread of small arms, analysts say.
Local residents reported that several communities in Agatu have been deserted as families flee to neighbouring areas in search of safety.
State security agencies have not yet issued a formal response, but officials say efforts are under way to stabilise the area and prevent an escalation of violence.
The latest order is expected to intensify debate over how authorities should address the long-running conflict between farming and herding communities across central Nigeria.
