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Ndosimili indigenes charge FG over alleged Fulani herdsmen killing of Ossissa farmers

By Yetunde Ayobami Ojo
13 July 2017   |   4:18 am
The Ndosimili Development Union of Ndokwa East, Delta State has called on the government to immediately address the incessant attacks of Ndokwa East communities by Fulani herdsmen.

The Ndosimili Development Union of Ndokwa East, Delta State has called on the government to immediately address the incessant attacks of Ndokwa East communities by Fulani herdsmen.

The union said that destruction of lives and farmlands of Ndokwa East people has caused starvation of the people who are mainly subsistence farmers.

President of the union, Captain Francis Adone, disclosed this in a statement, saying there was need for immediate action by the Delta State Police Command to allay fears of Ndokwa East people, which has prevented them from going to their farms or their lakes to fish.

The group noted that apart from the huge losses from damaged food crops like yams, maize, pepper, cassava, among others, their most agonising experience was the continued pollution of the creeks, rivers, brooks, streams, ponds and lakes, which remain their major sources of drinking water.

The group further pointed to several attacks on Ossissa communities by the armed herdsmen including the recent ones that claimed five lives. The union stated that Ossissa Community would be further plunged into penury as the people will record poor farm harvest this year especially when they are now preparing for 2017 season.

They condemned the wanton destruction of Ndokwa East farmlands, noting that the Fulani herdsmen were always raping their women and young girls.

“It also noted that since 1993 the herdsmen have not ceased terrorizing Ndokwa East communities with massive destruction of their farm products,” it stressed.

The union listed instances were several communities have been brutally attacked several times since then including Utchi in West bank of River Niger in 1993, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017; Abala along West Bank of River Niger and Ossissa along Ase Creek.

Umuoru also along the River Niger has had its own dose of the problem with the worst attack early this year when women and school girls were raped in the most ‘beastly’ manner by the Fulani herdsmen.

It noted Abalagada and Ibrede and several communities not mentioned have had their own share of this traumatic experience.

It, therefore, expressed concern over the poor security network in Delta State. It urged the state police command to take proactive measures to halt the menace of the armed Fulani herdsmen

The union also charged the federal authorities to introduce decisive measures to restrict the herdsmen to approve grazing routes as spelt out in the nation´s constitution.

Thanking the Delta State government for its intervention, the union enjoins the governor to liaise with Abuja to ensure that the people, including farmers, are given adequate protection to carry out their daily routine in a secured atmosphere.

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