The chairman of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, James Melvin Ejeh, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Fulani herdsmen to vacate all farmlands across the council area.
Ejeh gave the directive during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the council secretariat in Obagaji.
The meeting, aimed at addressing growing tensions ahead of the planting season, brought together traditional rulers, Fulani community leaders, youth representatives, and security officials.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the chairman, Obochi Solomon, Ejeh emphasised the importance of protecting agriculture, which he described as the backbone of Agatu’s economy. He stressed that farmers must be able to access their lands without fear of disruption.
Ejeh commended the relative peace currently enjoyed in the area but maintained that uninterrupted farming was now the top priority.
“Our farmers must cultivate without disruption. We will do everything necessary to create a safe environment for them,” he said.
During the meeting, the Ado of the Fulani requested a one-week grace period to prepare for relocation, a request that the council granted. The General Youth Chairman of Agatu LGA, Mr. Oloche Silas, pledged the youths’ full support for a peaceful evacuation process and promised that there would be no violence.
Security officials, including representatives of the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, DSS, praised the peaceful approach and assured of their support during the relocation. Also speaking at the meeting, Chief John Agidani, who represented the Och’Agatu, lauded the council chairman’s leadership and urged all parties to honor the agreement.
