KWALE: Persons suspected to be Fulani herdsmen has killed a 45-year old Mr Nwadei Monday Ikechukwu at Ossissa, Ndokwa East local government area of Delta State.
The deceased, a renowned plantain farmer and hunter was said to be coming from his farm on a motor bike (popularly called Okada) when the herdsmen shot at him.
According to his immediate younger brother, Mr Augustin Nwadei, “my brother was on his way from the farm when he was shot at and killed on Thursday morning, at the moment, we are at a loss on the next step to take as we have reported the case to the Police.”
An impeccable source who does not want his name in print said, “a Lawyer was kidnapped with another person by Fulani herdsmen and the deceased unfortunately passed through the kidnappers den and was killed, the Lawyer was driving a Jeep and after paying the ransom, he was freed; he confirmed that he witnessed the killing with another kidnapped victim whom he could not confirm if he has been freed.”
Wife of the deceased, Mrs Prescilia Nwadei (née Egugbo) who was nursing a two months old baby was said have not eaten since the incident happened as she looked uncertain about what the future holds.
The first Majority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Aneke Ifemeni expressed shock that Mr Nwadei had to lose his life in such unhealthy circumstance, stating, “Between Ossissa and Isselegu junction, I had encountered them when I was traveling to my village, Onicha-Ukwuani, they opened fire on me but, God saw me through.”
He decried the activities of the herdsmen which he said will lead to hunger if not checked.
According to him, “in the North, they are farming and they bring the Cows to the South to destroy our crops and kill our people, nobody is going to farm again for fear of being killed by herdsmen, there is a lot of land in the North for them to graze but, they don’t want to destroy their crops, they come here to kill our people and destroy our farms, “reiterating, our Governor has agricultural programmes but, how can such programmes succeed with what the herdsmen are doing? It is long overdue for government to do something before people takes to self-protection before they are either killed by the herdsmen or by hunger.”
Calls and text message to the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), at Ashaka Police Station who was said to be handling the case were not responded to.
Attempts were also made to reach Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs Celestine Kalu (DSP) but she failed to respond to calls and text message sent to her phone.
