Agatu Crisis .Social Media Activist Writes Open Letter To Police IG.

OPEN LETTER TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE SOLOMON ARASE OVER HIS REACTION TO THE AGATU CRISIS IN BENUE STATE.

Good day Sir,

It has no doubt become pertinent for me to pen down this open letter to you and make it known to the world how untrue and unfounded your assertion that the death casualty of 300 and IDPs figure of 7000 was exaggerated.

I was part of the team of media reporters who followed the former Senate President, Sen. David Mark and former Minister of Interior, Comr. Abba Moro into the nooks and crannies of Agatu LGA to ascertain the extent of the damage done. This on my part, was in compliance with the idea of investigative journalism to avail me first hand information about the situation. Therefore, my revelations are credible and verifiable.

You may not have known that the attacks by Fulani herdsmen in Benue State is not limited to Agatu LGA but to other local government areas in the state namely; Logo, Katsina-Ala, Buruku and Tarka. The situation is escalating by the day and danger is looming gradually. A lot of damage has been done already by these herdsmen which range across; killing of innocent Benue people, burning of houses and destruction of other properties as well as overgrazing of farms and farmlands. This has affected in no small mean the agricultural potency of the food basket state.

Without equivocating truth, I wish to tell you that the security in the affected areas is still very poor, as herdsmen armed to the teeth with sophisticated assault weapons are parading these areas and threatening inhabitants. Some of the security personnel deployed to Agatu even confided in us that, they were not given clear orders NOT to engage the armed herdsmen.

You may have been aware that the herdsmen attacked our convoy & it took the bravery of the escort security men to wade them off. With these security threats, it would be difficult for anybody to enter the area and ascertain the true spate of damage done. Most people who claim to have visited Agatu end up in the IDPs camp located in safe environment and mostly in Apa, a nearby local government.

We obtained drone footage reveals the true depiction of what I would call genocide and an attempt at ethnic cleansing. The drone revealed dead and decomposing bodies littered the bush and were unaccounted for.

How then did you ascertain the death figure of 300 to be exaggerated? Can you factually say you travelled to Agatu and reached the volatile zones to know the reality about this crisis? I put it to you that you did not go to Agatu sir.

It is not enough to say figures were exaggerated, it will be more concrete then to give what you consider to be the true figure and how you arrived at it. I make bold to say that the death casualty of 300 is quite conservative considering the level of destruction and the amount of corpses we saw in the affected areas.

I have no reservations therefore to tell you that you lied to over 5 million Benue people and to over 170 million Nigerians.

To me, your act of insincerity amounts to questionable conduct.

I pen this piece not to smear your personality nor to demean your position but to remind you of your honourable duty of guaranteeing security of lives and property.

We must not upturn truth in the face of adversity but speak it for the development of the nation.

Accept the compliments of my warmest regards.

Sincerely yours.

Ukan Kurugh.

(member) Kurugh House Of Representative.

Social Activist

14th March, 2016.

@Nigeriapolice

@chairmanNHRC

@NigeriaArmy