…Ortom, Almakura grazing deal triggers unrest
The Serikin Hausa of Bagana in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi state, Alhaji Audi Musa has been abducted by unknown gunmen believed to be Agatu militia from Benue state.
Just as the last week peace deal between the fulani herdsmen and Agatu farmers in Benue state by the governors of Benue state Samuel Ortom and Tanko Al Makura of Nassarawa state ceding part of Agatu and Bagana land for cattle grazing has sparked off renewed hostility among the Agatu and Fulani fighters.
The chief of Hausa who is known for his peaceful disposition was abducted on Monday midnight while asleep in his family house when the hoodlums numbering over 20 stormed the sleepy town Bagana shooting sporadically before reaching their target who was dragged on the road for half an hour before he was whisked to an unknown destination.
According to a source who craved anonymity, “we were taken by surprise as it was late in the night, the gunmen who came in through the Benue state axis were armed with sophisticated weapons, AK47 , IED etc , they went straight to their target, Alhaji Audi Musa, tied him to their motorbike and dragged him on a long distance before escaping through the foot path
“As I am talking his whereabouts is not known and the entire town is now a ghost of itself as people were parking in dross to avoid being cut in reprisal”, he said.
Bagana, a riverine town in Omala LGA has witnessed wanton destruction of lives and properties by the warring agatu militias and fulani herdmen who used the town as test ground to launch attack on each order.
The source noted that since 2013 that the fight broke out between Agatu and Fulani in Benue state who ran to Bagana in Kogi state for refuge, the people have been living in fears as the violent clashes has become a recurrent decimal in the community.
He added that in 2014, the town was reduced to rubbles as the fight led to the burning down of the town while several lives were lost, stressing that the people has barely started coming back to rebuild their property before this recent abduction of the man believed to be the rallying point of Hausa indigenes in the town.
The source stated that the town will not know peace with the two chiefs from another chiefdom ruling their subjects from Bagana whose presence has created irreconcilable differences.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Williams Aya said the police has been drafted to the village to restore confidence while search has been intensified for his rescue.
