BY TONY THOMPSON / MAKURDI
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A lawmaker representing Agatu state constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Godwin Edo has expressed concern about the possibility of conducting 2027 general elections in some communities in Agatu local government area of the state.
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Edo expressed the concern on Monday when he spoke with newsmen in Makurdi while decrying incessant attacks on the people of the area.
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The lawmaker lamented that for the past four years, many communities in the council had become desolate following the recurring fulani herdsmen attacks.
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He said, “For insurance, these herdsmen have destroyed all the social amenities in some of these communities such as; schools, markets and healthcare centers.
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“As I speak to you now, in Obagaji (headquarters of Agatu) for instance, we have deployment of Air Force, soldiers, special police squad and Civil Defense personnel.
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“Despite the presence of these security agents, all the people from hinterlands have relocated to the LG headquarters in Obagaji.
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“Some of those villages in the hinterland have been deserted, the people can no longer engage in farming and fishing because those are the two sources of livelihoods in the council.
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“My fear is that if this attack continues unchecked it will be difficult for the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct the 2027 general elections in the areas, because they are not accessible right now.
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The lawmaker though said that the state governor, Hyacinth Alia recently gave marching order to security agents to flush out criminal elements that are terrorising the people of the communities.
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Edo expressed hoped that the security agents would respect the governor’s directive so as to help reduce the attack and allow the people to return to their ancestral homes.
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The lawmaker also appealed to both federal and state governments to include the local government in the ongoing housing scheme for internally displaced persons to help them return homes and start a new life.
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