Reprisal attacks loom over herdsmen’s killings in Delta

•Okowa urges FG to formulate policy to curtail crisis
Unless the clash between herdsmen and some communities in Delta State are stopped, there would be reprisal attacks soon.

The state Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the Joint Campus Committee (JCC) Mr. Precious Ogonegbu gave the warning in a statement.

Ogonegbu said the herdsmen’s attacks had led to the death of many people, as well as the rape of women and destruction of farmers’ crops.

The statement, which was addressed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said the herdsmen had wreaked havoc in Ubulu-Uku, Erweni, Ewheru and Abraka communities.

They gave the governor an eight-point demand to curb the attacks, adding that the recent murder of Solomon Ejor and Sunday Idama in Abraka and two other cases in the area would create disaster if not checked.

Ogonegbu urged the state government to create a legislation to sanction their activities and also raise a joint task force of security agencies and representatives of the 25 local councils in the state.

The Guardian leant that the herdsmen have also planned a reprisal attacks in Urhuoka, Abraka. This followed the destruction of property belonging to Hausa and Fulani communities in the area.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, disclosed that he had held meetings with various Hausa groups to bring the challenge under control.

Meanwhile, Okowa has urged the Federal Government to urgently introduce policies to curb the danger.

He made the call yesterday at the 25th coronation anniversary of the Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom, Wilson Oharisi III at Ughelli. Okowa said:

“The Fulani herdsmen’s menace is a national challenge that is affecting all the states in the federation. I do hope that there would be a policy direction to reduce the clashes.”

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, also told journalists in Asaba at the weekend that the menace of the herdsmen must be checked to prevent a total breakdown of law and order in the country.