THE crisis rocking Agatu Community of Benue State which had in recent time resulted in killings of over 500 natives, allegedly by Fulani herdsmen, appeared to have come to an end as Idoma Community, yesterday, reached a common ground with its Fulani counterpart to a cease fire. This was the fallout of a town hall meeting held in Abuja, at the weekend, at the instance of the two communities. Addressing the press after rising from the meeting, representatives of Idoma community, under the aegis of Idoma Initiative and the Fulani, under the umbrella of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, said they had resolved to put everything behind them and live once more in peace and harmony. To this end, the meeting resolved that the national leadership of MACBAN will direct its Benue and Nasarawa states chapters to immediately direct all Fulani herdsmen carrying out grazing activities in Agatu to withdraw and move to Nasarawa State while dialogue towards the peaceful resolution of the conflict was on-going. In the same vein, the meeting resolved that all Agatu youths should desist from patrolling the river bank until a better understanding was sought between the two parties. Reading a communique of the town hall meeting to newsmen, Idoma representative, Barr . Paul Edeh, and that of MACBAN, Alhaji Muhammadu Kiruwa, said participants for the town hall meeting were drawn from ‘“our respective organisations and other major stakeholders in the Agatu and Fulani communities. ‘’At the meeting, we discussed the steps necessary to be taken both at the federal and state levels, to ensure a lasting and enduring peace between the Idoma community in Agatu and the Fulani herdsmen. ‘“We have agreed to work closely with our various communities, government of Benue and Nasarawa states, the Federal Government and all willing partners towards fostering peace and mutual cooperation, security, and sustainable development that includes strengthening our collective desires to promote cooperation and help to prevent future conflicts and resolve same if it ever arise again. It said:” A peace football match should be organized between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and a joint team, comprising the Idomas and the Fulanis. The Football match should be played at the National Stadium, Abuja, and organised in conjunction with NFF. “The match should be aimed at raising awareness of the peaceful resolution of the conflict and to raise funds towards the reconstruction of the properties destroyed in the crisis.” The meeting also urged the Federal Government to immediately set up a high power committee that will include the leadership of the Idoma Initiative and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria MACBAN, to comprehensively look into the immediate and remote causes of the crisis with the view of finding a lasting solution
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