Asaba: Against the growing criminality of Herdsmen across the Delta State, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, has challenged the Federal Government and the Inspector General of Police, Idris Abubakar, to take urgent and proactive steps in disarming Fulani Herdsmen in the state and other parts of the country so as to prevent total breakdown of law and order.
Mr. Ukah, who spoke in a chat with newsmen in Asaba, the state capital, lamented the youths uprising that led to the vandalization of the palace of HRM, Ovei of Abraka Kingdom and other properties in Abraka communities, over the suspected killing of Solomon Ejoor by the Fulani Herdsmen in Ovria Abraka forest, wants the Federal Government and the law enforcement agents to do everything possible to stop the broad daylight slaughtering of innocent farmers across the state.
The Commissioner said that the state government will continue to prevail on the Federal Government to do something very urgent because the situation is taking a different dimension.
According to Mr. Ukah, “The state government will not encourage our people and the youths to take laws into their hands but it is obvious that the police and APC Federal Government have shown sufficient lukewarm attitude towards the arrest and prosecution of the Fulani Herdsmen who are regularly killing our men, raping women and defiling young girls in their farmlands after feeding their cattles with cassava, yams and other cash crops. This development is ridiculous and the state government is worried and concerned about the plight of our people and families affected by the criminal activities of Fulani Herdsmen”.
He stated that the State House of Assembly is currently working on a bill in respect of the criminal activities of Fulani Herdsmen in the state, assuring that by the time the bill is passed, the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, will not hesitate to sign it into law.
Ukah further disclosed that the state government will continue to appeal to the people not to take laws into their hands, noting that the security agents and the Buhari administration must realise that they are foot dragging in this matter which is why some persons are now left with the option of reprisals resulting in the wanton destruction of properties as a way of venting their anger.
Solomon Ejoor was said to have been killed when he mobilized some family members to the bush to rescue his mother who was trapped in the bush as a result of the activities of Herdsmen. His killing resulted in outrage by some youths of Abraka, who then unleashed mayhem on their palace and the Housa quarters in the area.
