Delta Monarch accuses suspected herdsmen of killing farmers

The traditional ruler of Okpanam kingdom, Oshimile North Local Council of Delta State, Michael Mbanefo, has alleged that suspected Fulani herdsmen have been killing his people in their farmlands.

“I have written to the police and President Mohammed Buhari to come to our aid, so that our men and women can go to their farm freely without being attacked,” he said.

Also speaking on the illegal land acquisition in the community, he said those who acquired lands illegally would forfeit them as a committee saddled with the responsibility to look into the issues, would act on the mandate to ensure the “lands are recovered from usurpers, unless the lands were genuinely acquired.”

In another development, following the recent killing of two brothers, Akpovona Felix and Akpupu Sunday, by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Urhuoka community, Abraka, the President-General of Urhuoka Development Association (UDA), Mr. Freeborn Ukrakpor, has resigned his position as President-General.

In a letter dated January 7, 2017, and titled “Letter of Resignation” addressed to the Ovie of Oruarivie, Abraka kingdom, Akomeyoma Majoroh, Freeborn said: “I write to announce my resignation from the position of President-General Urhuoka Development Association (UDA).

“After due consideration of the trend of events in Urhuoka community over the period of my being in office, my entire family and I are convinced that as president-general, I will always be far away from the peaceful life I retired home to live.

“It is unimaginable that the people of Urhuoka community would neglect the Fulani herdsmen that killed our people, and direct their retaliation at me, for being the president-general. The disturbances of Fulani herdsmen have long been before I returned home from the city on retirement.”

He stated that as a community leader, he could tolerate constructive criticism from his community, but would not tolerate any blackmail relating to Fulani herdsmen operations, and for that reason, “I hereby step down from UDA as President-General with immediate effect.”

In the mean time, a new acting president-general has been appointed to manage the office until a new president-general is elected. John Avwenaghegha will act for the next two months pending when a new president-general is elected.

Meanwhile, the Partner for Peace in the Niger Delta, Delta State chapter, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to launch an intensive campaign, aimed at mopping up illegally acquired arms in the country, especially in the Northern states and communities where Fulani herdsmen are terrorising people in the South-South region.

The coordinator, Kenneth Atsenuwa, also urged the president to create time to visit Southern Kaduna, saying, such a step will boost trust in his government.

 

Source: Guardian

Withdraw Military From Niger Delta Region Now– Delta Monarch

Paramount ruler of Siembiri Kingdom in Delta State, HRM Pere Charles Ayemi-Botu, has appealed to President Mohammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, withdraw the heavy military presence in the Niger Delta region.

According to him, attacking the region with military might at this moment when the militants have announced ceasefire will be counter- productive.

The Pere of Siembiri kingdom in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State likened the action of the Federal Government to “shooting oneself in the foot or throwing away the baby with the bath water.”

He said, “Sequel to the acceptance of ceasefire, courtesy of monarchs and the leaders of the Niger Delta ten days ago by the Niger Delta Avengers and other militant groups, one would have expected President Buhari to announce his dialogue team as he did in early June, 2016, when he declared two weeks’ ceasefire preceding his medical trip to the UK.”

The Ijaw monarch wondered why President Buhari, instead of announcing his dialogue team, ordered the mobilisation of troops to the Niger Delta region under the pretext of military exercise, code-named ”Operation Crocodile Smile.”

He stressed that by this action, he is thus sending negative signals to all Nigerians, the international community and the whole world that the stage is now set to crush the militants at a time they have accepted ceasefire.

“We have been making frantic and passionate appeals in conjunction with the United States Consul General, Mr. John Braye, calling on both the Federal Government and the militants to sheathe their swords and embrace dialogue in order to proffer lasting solutions to the Niger Delta quagmire,” he said.

Credit: thisdaylive