A member of the Benue State House of Assembly representing Agatu Constituency, Godwin Edoh, has raised concerns that the 2027 general elections in Agatu Local Government Area may be jeopardized if urgent steps are not taken to address the worsening insecurity in the area.
Edoh raised the alarm while speaking with journalists in Makurdi, noting that recurring attacks in several communities have led to mass displacement of residents over the past four years, with many forced to abandon their ancestral homes.
He explained that most affected communities are now deserted, as residents have relocated to the local government headquarters in Obagaji, where security personnel including soldiers, police tactical teams, Air Force units, and Civil Defence operatives have been deployed.
According to him, despite the presence of security agencies, rural communities remain unsafe, making farming and fishing the main sources of livelihood in the area no longer possible.
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“My fear is that if these attacks continue unchecked, it may be difficult for INEC to conduct the 2027 elections in these areas because they are currently not accessible,” he said.
The lawmaker further lamented the destruction of critical infrastructure such as schools, markets, and primary healthcare centres in the affected communities, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
He commended the directive of Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, ordering security agencies to flush out criminal elements from forests, expressing hope that effective implementation would restore peace and allow displaced residents to return home.
Edoh also appealed to both federal and state governments to extend housing and resettlement interventions to internally displaced persons in Agatu, to support their return and recovery.
Meanwhile, displaced residents currently sheltering in Obagaji have continued to call for urgent government intervention, insisting on returning to their ancestral homes after years in IDP camps.
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