Allege 135 Persons Killed, Several housewives raped, farm Crops worth millions of naira destroyed
From Lateef Taiwo
In order to put an end to farmers/ herders Clash, while making farmlands safer for meaningful agricultural development in Delta State, the state government has been called upon to ensure immediate implementation of its Anti- grazing law, initiated by former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration.
Making this call at a one day Collaboration meeting between officials of LIFE – ND Project in Delta State, and Farmers/ herders representatives at Isiokolo , headquarters of Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state,the leader of the LIFE – ND group, Mrs Paula Omare , said that the Collaboration was aimed at finding the lasting Solution to the Farmers herders Clash and Protecting LIFE – ND Projects in the state adding that:” LIFE – ND Projects have two Cassava Production Enterprises at Uruagbare / Uruoka and Ovu in Ethiope East Local Government..We also projects at Oroike , Ukori , Eku , Okpara, Oria- Abraka, Ugono, and other places which we need to protect from Possible Farmers herders Clash ”
While disclosing that estimated 135 persons were allegedly feared killed by herders, several women raped and farm crops worth millions of naira destroyed, Mrs Omare however appealed to the farmers and herders in attendance to appeal to their members to work in synergy with a view to ensuring that disagreement or Conflict between them is reduced to the barest minimum adding that in the absence of peaceful coexistence, no meaningful agricultural development could take place in the state.
In his reaction,the representative of Miyeti – Allah in Ethiope East Local Government Area, Chief Etaedefe Abdulrahman , said that the only way out to address the Clashes between farmers and herders in the state, was to ensure the full implementation of the grazing law initiated by Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, adding that ” Anything short of this would amount to going round the same Circle on the issue of farmers herders Clash in the state”
In addition, he said that Government should build industrial or Semi industrial ranches where cows would be kept, fed and curtailed in order to reduce their indiscriminate movements that had in the past caused Conflict between farmers and herders, stressing that if these steps are considered,and the urgency it deserved, the Clashes between the two groups would Continue because the grazing routes of those days have been Occupied by farmers, while the Owners of the Cows want their Cows to graze and in the Process, one might not be able to Checkmate the movement of the animals.
In their separate remarks, the LIFE – ND Project State Rural Infrastructure Officer , Engr Paul Agboegbem advised farmers and herders including other stakeholders in the local government area to sustain the existing Cooperation among them towards ensuring that LIFE – ND Project’s vision of food security, Job Creation and income generation is Sustained
Meanwhile, The Delta State Police Command through the Public Relations Officer,DSP Bright Edafe confirmed that a good number of persons were allegedly feared killed by Suspected Fulani herdsmen adding that many of the arrested Suspects were currently being faced with Jail terms and warned that the police will continue protect the lives and properties of Deltans especially during nightfall and Wee hours.
Relations of a farmer that was allegedly killed around June this year 2023 in Abraka Community,Mrs Rose William said that her brother was allegedly murdered by Suspected Fulani herdsmen right inside his farmland adding that an argument ensured between her brother and herders over the destruction of Crops in the farm, adding that unfortunately, fight ensured that led to his death
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