Newly obtained documents reveal a possible root of the long-standing conflict between Fulani herders and residents of Agatu Local Government Area (LGA) in Benue State.

The documents indicate that part of Agatu land, specifically Adapati Island, was secretly ceded to Fulani herders in 2017—a move that has been linked to persistent violence, destruction of farmlands, and displacement of local communities. Villages such as Aila, Okokolo, Obagaji, Adagbo, Akwu, Odugbehon, and Odejo have been particularly affected, with residents reporting ongoing threats to their crops and livelihoods.

The January 6, 2017 agreement, reportedly overseen by Capt. I.A. Yusuf, the then Sole Administrator of Agatu LGA, stipulated that only “indigenous Fulani” with verified identities could graze on Adapati Island, and the land was not to be used for residence.

However, traditional authorities in Agatu, led by Chief Echechofu Ogwola of the Ayele/Igagishu Clan, have rejected the agreement as illegal and conducted without community consent. Represented by legal firm E-O Samson & Partners, the clan declared the ceding null and void under customary law, arguing that the agreement has been violated through destruction of homes and farmlands, unauthorized grazing beyond designated areas, and violent clashes involving firearms and machetes.

The controversy is compounded by the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017, which prohibits nomadic herding outside designated ranches and requires permits for grazing—none of which exist for Adapati.

The legal team has demanded the immediate invalidation of the 2017 agreement, cessation of grazing, and removal of herders and their cattle from the land, warning of legal action if compliance is not met within 30 days.

In a recent statement, Agatu LGA chairman Melvin Ejeh revoked the controversial grazing agreement, ordering all armed herders to vacate the communities, describing the previous arrangement as executed in bad faith with negative consequences for residents.