Lawmaker representing Agatu State Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Godwin Edo, has called on the Federal Government to extend its housing scheme for internally displaced persons (IDPs) to communities affected by persistent attacks in Agatu Local Government Area.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Yakubu Obande, Edo said the intervention had become necessary given the prolonged displacement of residents and the destruction of homes and critical infrastructure across the area.
He commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for directing security operatives to intensify operations in surrounding forests to dislodge criminal elements responsible for attacks on communities, noting that such decisive action could help restore normalcy and facilitate the return of displaced persons.
The lawmaker observed that the lack of sustained operations in the past had enabled bandits to entrench themselves in forest hideouts, from where they launch attacks on unsuspecting residents.
He, however, expressed concern that several communities in Agatu had remained deserted for over four years, with schools, healthcare facilities and homes destroyed, forcing many residents to seek refuge in Obagaji, the council headquarters, under harsh conditions.
Edo criticised what he described as a longstanding “lip service” approach to addressing insecurity in the area, urging security agencies to take the battle to the hideouts of the attackers.
Despite the presence of security personnel in Obagaji, he said residents continued to live in fear, unable to access their farmlands and fishing ponds, which serve as their main sources of livelihood.
“Many people can no longer go about their normal activities. Feeding and basic survival have become a daily challenge, while some residents move into the town centre at night out of fear of attacks,” he said.
He stressed that extending the federal housing scheme to Agatu communities would provide a pathway for displaced persons to rebuild their lives and return to their ancestral homes.
Edo also warned that if the insecurity persists, it could undermine preparations for the 2027 general elections, as many affected communities may remain inaccessible.