Agatu | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates: 7°54′N 7°54′E / 7.9°N 7.9°E | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| State | Benue State |
| Headquarters | Obagaji |
| Government | |
| • Local Government Chairman and the Head of the Local Government Council | Hon. Joseph Ngbede[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 411 sq mi (1,065 km2) |
| Population (2022)[2] | |
• Total | 166,900 |
| • Density | 410/sq mi (160/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
 | |
Agatu is a Local Government Area of Benue State, North Central Nigeria. It was created in 1996. It used to be the Agatu district of the old Otukpo division. The headquarters of the local government is at Obagaji; it is one of nine local government areas in the southern senatorial zone of Benue State which is mainly occupied by the Idoma people of Benue State. The resident population[3] are mainly farmers.
By the 1991 census, it has a population of about 80,000
On 21 Jan 2014, 20 civilians and 5 soldiers were killed in an Agatu in an attack by Fulani herdsmen.[4][5]
Agatu was the scene of more attacks over two years later, in 2016.
Agatu is a home to notable people such as Hon John Ngbede, Benue State Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Samuel Odagboyi Godday current member of the House of Representatives, Hon Solomon Agidani former House of Rep member and Professor Isa Innocent Ekoja first professor from Agatu, Pastor John Eliagwu Odogbo current Ochidoma of Idoma
- ^ "Welcome benuestate.gov.ng - BlueHost.com". benuestate.gov.ng. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ^ "Benue State: Subdivision". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
- ^ "Agatu Local Government Area – I am Benue". Retrieved 2022-09-05.
- ^ "Who are the Fulani herdsmen? A Nigerian conflict explainer". The Pillar. 2022-06-06. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
- ^ "20 Civilians, Five Soldiers Killed in Renewed Fulani Attack on Agatu". This Day Live. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.