Farmers arrest two herdsmen in Delta, House backs Okowa on grazing bill

Farmers in Ebu community near Asaba, Delta State yesterday arrested two suspected herdsmen in their farmland after several efforts by the youths of Ekpechor search party to locate the herdsmen who allegedly raped some women and destroyed their crops.

They were arrested in a hut while asleep in the farmlands. But police officers at the Illah Police Division where the suspects were later taken said the farmers swooped on the herdsmen and arrested them before shouting for help that attracted other farmers to the scene.

It was gathered that the two suspects who were identified as Abdullahi Sani and Danladi Mohammed, claimed they were innocent of the recent attacks on the farmers in Ebu. They were later transferred to the police headquarters in Asaba where they are currently being interrogated.

Efforts to speak with the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Andrew Aniamaka were successful as at the time of filling this report because his GSM lines did not connect.

Meanwhile, the state House of Assembly has supported the recent statement by the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa on the decision of the state not to support the Federal Government sponsored Grazing Reserve Bill.

Speaker of the House, Monday Igbuya, who spoke through the Executive Assistant on Communication to the governor, Fred Oghenesivbe quoted the speaker as saying that “all over the world, there is no country where the Federal Government hides under legislation to forcefully acquire grazing reserves for farmers and herdsmen.”

“Those sponsoring the bill for grazing reserves in Nigeria are on their own, Delta State is not part of that retrogressive and politically motivated legislation,” he added.

Meanwhile, National Security Adviser (NSA), Commodore Yaminu Musa has said that there have been reported cases of unchecked illicit movement of arms and ammunition across the country’s borders, which is fueling terrorist activities in the North-East.

He therefore, cautioned that securing the borders would help to prevent the attacks and increasing violence in the country.

Musa made this known during a three-day workshop on joint border control and enhanced regional cooperation to combat terrorism held recently in Lagos.

Speaking at the workshop organized by the European Union and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Musa revealed that terrorists now take undue advantage of the porous borders to perpetrate crimes.