The convoy of the immediate past Senate President, Chief David Mark, was greeted with a barrage of bullets from Fulani herdsmen as he visited troubled Agatu communities in Benue State to ascertain the level of destruction caused by recent attacks by the herdsmen who are said to have now occupied the communities.
Mark and his entourage, including: ex-Interior minister, Abba Moro, House of Reps’ member representing Ohimini/Otukpo, Ezekiel Adaji, security aides, newsmen and party supporters, were however unhurt as a rapid response from security men on the convoy warded off the attack which happened in Akwu community.
This resulted in confusion as the herdsmen were seen taking off with their herds while members of the convoy disembarked and headed in the other direction before the intervention from security operatives. This, however, did not prevent Mark, a retired soldier, from visiting six other communities of Aila, Okokolo, Adagbo, Akwu, Ogboju and Odugbeho, which were completely destroyed by the herdsmen.
While bemoaning the level of carnage, the Senator assured the members of his constituency that he would ensure such situation did not occur again, even as he called on them to go about their activities peacefully. He assured that the perpetrators of the act would be brought to book through legal means.
One of the youth leaders named Michael, who spoke at Aila lamented the porous security in Agatu local government, angrily sent the former senate president to inform President Muhammadu Buhari to remove the soldiers as “we are competent now to defend ourselves”.
This was as the youths in other communities visited accused the state governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom and the Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase of not visiting the affected areas to see things for themselves adding that when the deputy governor, Engr. Benson Abounu visited, he only stopped at Apa where the displaced persons were camped.
But Mark urged the youths to maintain peace and be law abiding as he promised to convey what he had seen to the government for prompt action.
