Community leader resigns over alleged murder of two brothers by suspected Fulani herdsmen

Barely three weeks after two brothers, Akpovona Felix and Akpupu Sunday, were killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Urhuoka community, Abraka, the President-General of Urhuoka Development Association (UDA), Mr. Freeborn Ukrakpor, has resigned his position as President-General.

In a letter dated January, 7, 2017, and titled “Letter of Resignation” addressed to the Ovie of Oruarivie, Abraka kingdom, HRM Akomeyoma Majoroh, and other authorities, Mr. Freeborn said, “I write to announce my resignation from the position of President-General Urhuoka Development Association (UDA), Urhuoka, Abraka.

“After due consideration of the trend of events in Urhuoka community over the period of my being in office, my entire family and I are convinced that as president-general, I will always be far away from the peaceful life I retired home to live.

“It is unimaginable that the people of Urhuoka community would neglect the Fulani herdsmen that killed our people, and direct their retaliation at me, for being the president-general.

“The recent case was safety of my family and I on January 4, 2017. The disturbances of Fulani herdsmen have long been, before I returned home from the city on retirement.

“Besides, I am not aware of any approach within the strength of the UDA that was not followed to solve the herdsmen problem. I am therefore, not convinced of any other reason Urhuoka people would blackmail me, other than malicious mindedness.”

He stated that as a community leader, he could tolerate constructive criticism from his community people, but would not tolerate any blackmail relating to Fulani herdsmen operations, and for that reason, “I hereby step down from UDA as President-General with immediate effect.”

A source in the community told our reporter that if Mr. Freeborn Ukrakpor, had listened to the counsel of his executive members, “he would have excelled and this open criticism that scared him away from the office of president-general would not have occurred.”

Meanwhile, a new acting president-general has been appointed to manage the office until a new president-general is elected according to the dictates of the constitution governing the UDA.

The name of the acting president-general is Dcn. John Avwenaghegha. He is to ac t for the next two months pending when a new president-general is elected.

Speaking to our reporter shortly after his appointment as acting president-general, Dcn John, as the executive were on top of the situation, assuring them that the executive was working assiduously to reach out to the Delta State government to come to “our aid.”