Three persons are feared killed in clashes involving indigenes and suspected herdsmen in some communities of Delta and Rivers states.Specifically, two indigenes were reportedly slaughtered in Omumu community, Ika South Local Council of Delta State on Monday evening.
Reports said the victims allegedly engaged the suspected nomads in their farmlands after crops, worth thousands of naira, were destroyed.Former party chairman in the community, Chief Joel Obuchi, told The Guardian that the situation portends bad omen, urging the state government to look into the problem.
Regretting that the suspected herdsmen had wreaked untold havoc on the community, Obuchi stated that the cattle rearers had turned many farms into grazing land. He warned that if urgent steps were not taken by security agents, the activities of the nomads might result in clashes of higher scale between the cattle rearers and their host communities.
In a swift reaction, the state Police Commissioner, Zanna Ibrahim, said his men were on top of the situation, adding that some persons had been arrested detained and were being detained for further investigation.
In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Council of Rivers State, one person was left dead after an ensuing clash between the residents and the cattle rearers.
It was gathered that the herdsmen had lived peacefully in the communities until lately when their activities began to ruffle feathers.
Disturbed by the development, the State House of Assembly yesterday took steps to forestall the imminent crisis. It consequently passed a resolution directing security agencies, especially the police, to take urgent steps in checking encroachment into farmlands by the herdsmen.
The directive followed debate at plenary on a motion moved by the member representing Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Constituency II, Nathaniel Uwaji and seconded by Barine Deeya.
The lawmakers also directed the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Omoku, Okwuzi and Ndoni communities to liaise with the community leaders and the leadership of the council to “seek ways that will proffer short, medium and long term solution” to the impasse.
In the meantime, residents of some Delta communities have asked the state government to investigate the bribery allegation levelled by some Fulani herdsmen living in their midst.
They had alleged that a number of their hosts secretly collected bribes in form of cash and cattle to enable them operate freely. A cattle rearer told our reporter that in communities within Kwale, they allegedly paid N200,000 to some persons who claimed to be leaders.But the spokesman for the community, Obusehi Edward, dismissed the allegation.
