OBETIM-UNO/Nigeria: The residents of Obetim-Uno community, situated in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, are facing an urgent crisis as they grapple with incessant attacks on their farms and farmlands by marauding herdsmen.
In a plea for intervention from the state government, the community fears the looming threat of hunger, starvation, and loss of lives akin to the experiences witnessed in Benue and Plateau States.
The call for help was formally expressed in a resolution issued by the Obetim National Council (ONC), the community’s Apex body. Despite efforts made by Mr. Matthew Ujene, the officer in charge of Delta North operations of the Delta State Livestock Management Committee (DLMC), to enforce the State’s Livestock Breeding, Rearing, and Marketing Regulation Law of 2021 regarding open grazing, the attacks have persisted.
The source of the troubles appears to be the actions of Fulani herdsmen, led by a certain Yahaya Mohammed, who is reportedly residing in Kwale, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of the state. These herdsmen have been repeatedly thwarting the community’s efforts, in collaboration with the DLMC, to control the situation and prevent further devastation to their farms and crops.
To avoid direct confrontations and potential loss of life, the community’s leadership joined hands with the DLMC and held a meeting with the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), S.A. Jimoh, in Asaba on July 10, 2023. The meeting aimed to address the issue following the arrest of one of the herdsmen named Abdul Mohammed.
However, the community remains frustrated as their efforts to find a peaceful resolution have been met with setbacks. In a statement signed by ONC President Chief Sony Neme, it was revealed that Yahaya Mohammed, who was arrested by the DLMC, was later released based on a directive from Asaba without consulting the community. Consequently, the herdsmen have continued to cause destruction in Obetim-Uno community with their livestock.
Chief Neme confirmed that over 300 farms, valued at over a hundred million naira, have suffered extensive damage due to the herdsmen’s actions. As the community heavily relies on farming for their livelihood, the destruction of their crops has left them in dire straits, facing hunger and starvation. Many farmers, particularly women, have been forced to abandon their lands to ensure their safety.
In light of the herders’ unyielding stance and their refusal to engage in dialogue, the community has resorted to seeking help from relevant government authorities. Their demands include the immediate departure of the herdsmen from their community and compensation for the damages caused to their farms and livelihoods. They also assert that their lands were never designated for grazing and, as such, demand the removal of the herders’ cattle.
The situation in Obetim-Uno serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by communities across Nigeria in finding peaceful resolutions to the herder-farmer conflict, and the urgency with which government intervention is needed to avert further suffering and loss.
