Benue herders crisis: How Agatu land was secretly ceded to ‘Indigenous’ Fulani herdsmen [Documents]

Fresh evidence has emerged that could explain the decades-long hostilities between Fulani herdsmen and the people of Agatu Local Government Area (LGA) in Benue State.
Documents obtained exclusively by DAILY POST show that part of Agatu land was secretly ceded to Fulani herders in 2017, an act that some said has fueled persistent violence and tension in the region.
For years, communities in Agatu have been at odds with herdsmen over grazing on farmlands.
The conflict has left dozens dead, hundreds displaced, and farms destroyed, according to reports.
Communities including Aila, Okokolo, Obagaji, Adagbo, Akwu, Odugbehon, Odejo, among others, have been badly affected by the violence.
Residents of the affected communities have said their crops and livelihoods are under constant threat, prompting repeated resistance to herder activities.

However, the newly surfaced documents have revealed a deeper dimension: the 2017 ceding of land in Adapati Island, which has been cited by both sides as a point of contention.
The agreement, dated January 6, 2017, was reportedly supervised by Capt. I.A. Yusuf, then the Sole Administrator of Agatu LGA.
Under its terms, among others, it stated: “Adapati Island would be open only for grazing, not residence. Only ‘indigenous Fulani’ with verified identities could graze on the island.”
Despite these conditions, the agreement has been widely criticized as secretive and exclusionary, with no input from the traditional leaders or the local community.
Chief Echechofu Ogwola, clan head of the Ayele/Igagishu Clan, whose authority covers Adapati land, has disowned the agreement.
Represented by a legal firm, E-O Samson & Partners, the clan affirmed that the ceding of the land was conducted without consent, making it null and void under customary law.
It said: “At no time whatsoever was our Client, the Adapati community, or any lawful traditional authority consulted, invited, or involved before the purported ceding or opening of Adapati communal land to Fulani herdsmen for grazing purposes.
“The land in question is customary community land, held in trust by the Clan Head for and on behalf of the people. Any purported agreement affecting such land without the knowledge, consent, or participation of the landowners is null, void, and of no legal effect.”
The firm highlighted what it describes as serial breaches of the agreement, which include: destruction of indigenous homes and farmlands; grazing beyond Adapati Island into other community lands; and use of firearms and machetes, leading to violent clashes.
The controversy is further complicated by the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017, which took effect on May 22, 2017.
Key provisions include: Section 5: Requires a gubernatorial permit for grazing; none exists for Adapati.
Section 19: Prohibits nomadic herding outside designated ranches.
The clan’s legal representatives have formally demanded:
“Immediate invalidation of the January 6, 2017 agreement.
“Immediate cessation of all grazing activities and removal of herders, cattle, and illegal structures from Adapati land. Written confirmation of compliance within 30 days.
“The unlawful grazing activities have occasioned enormous losses, economic hardship, environmental degradation, and insecurity to farmers and residents of Adapati and adjoining communities. Our Client and his people can no longer tolerate the continued violation of their proprietary, possessory, and customary rights.”
“Failure to comply,” the firm warned, “will trigger legal action and petitions to state authorities.”
Earlier, the chairman of Agatu, Melvin Ejeh, revoked the 2017 grazing agreement that granted herders access to Adapati Island and ordered all armed herders to vacate Agatu communities with immediate effect.
He described the agreement, entered into by a former sole administrator, as one that was not executed in good faith and had negative consequences for the people of Agatu.
 
Benue herders crisis: How Agatu land was secretly ceded to ‘Indigenous’ Fulani herdsmen [Documents]