Six Delta communities raise the alarm over herdsmen attack, destruction of farm crops

Residents of six Delta Communities Wednesday raised fear over fresh Fulani herdsmen alleged attack and destruction of their farm crops after they reportedly attacked three farmers in their lands.

The residents, many of whom have reportedly abandoned their houses, farms for fear of the unknown and attack by the rampaging Fulani herdsmen, are asking President Mohammadu Buhari and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to urgently intervene and save them from the continued attacks by the herdsmen.

Investigation revealed that the six communities; Ebu, Illah, Ugbolu, Okpanam, Kwale and Ossissa are currently under siege of fresh attack Fulani herdsmen who last Monday allegedly attacked three farmers (names withheld) in Ugbolu community in their farm lands after a reportedly verbal cross fire between they (the farmers) and the Fulani herdsmen who brought their cattle to the farm for grazing.

But the police officers in Illah community Police Division who did not want their names in the print, confirmed that the victims reported the matter at the police station, adding that investigation was ongoing with a view to arresting the suspects.

It was gathered that the victims sustained minor injuries in the attack when the Fulani herdsmen with their cattle grazing in their farm lands allegedly pounced on them when it was clear to them that they were building up anger to strike after a shouting match quarrel.

Two of the victims one of them Timothy Okafor said: “we shouted at the herdsmen in our farmlands and they rushed at us with bows and we took to our heels inside the bush in the process they hit us with the bows and we started running in the cause we fell down and sustained injuries, herdsmen have refused to stop coming to our farmlands, we want them to stop destroying our crops”.

Expectedly, the unaccepted destruction of agricultural plants and threat to lives and properties in Ebu, Illah, Ugbo, Okpanam, Kwale, Ossissa communities in what appeared to be renewed attack on its residents, portend the fear of the unknown and may be worsened if urgent steps are not taken by security agents to curb the act.

Narrating further their ordeals in the re-occurring humiliating and deadly experiences in the hands of the Fulani herdsmen, Mr. Ojora Okoro spokesman for the residents and a farmer in Ebu community expressed sadness at the repeated destruction of their agricultural plants, adding; “These Fulani herdsmen have resumed our farms again and they have destroyed our hard earned property to feed their cattle, we want President Buhari, Gov. Okowa to please come to our aid, we are tied of their activities”.

He noted that their silence does not mean that they are cowards, adding that their great ancestors bravely will drive the herdsmen away without stress.

Another person, Mrs. Betty Okolie in Illah said she was not satisfied with the reported cases of fresh destruction of agricultural crops by cattle owned by the herdsmen, adding “the cattle have invaded our farmlands again and they are causing us sleepless nights, creating hunger to us”.

In a swift reaction, the police commissioner in the state, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim on telephone said measures have been put in place by the police to bring hoodlums attacking farmers in their farmlands to book, adding; “we have measures already put in place to bring the hoodlums to book”.

In Kwale, farmers in the community have lamented their plight and horrendous experiences in the hands of the herdsmen who they said intentionally allow their animals to feed on their crops. One of the farmers, Enebeli John said that any attempt made to stop the animals by the farm owners, often trigger serious attack followed by the use of dangerous weapons by Fulani herdsmen.

While some farmers in Illah community who did not want their names in the print, alleged that they have reported the re-occurring acts of the Fulani herdsmen to the police severally with little or no positive action taken to curb the provocative menace, adding that once “we rise up to defend our lives and property, the police will wake up to perform their duty if the Fulani herdsmen push us harder again, we have the capacity to face them including any one or group that will support or question our action”.