CEPEJ Boss Urges Delta State Gov’t to Establish Herdsmen Community Watch to Forestall Clash with ...

CEPEJ Boss Urges Delta State Government to Establish Herdsmen Community Watch to Forestall Clash with Farmers

Following the alleged killing of community people by suspected herdsmen in Delta State, the National Coordinator of Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, Comrade Sheriff Mulade has urged the Delta State House of Assembly to enact a Law that will protect community people from deadly attacks by herdsmen.

Speaking with newsmen at the weekend on the incessant killing of farmers by Fulani herdsmen, Comrade Mulade said community people were attacked and killed by herdsmen on a daily basis contrary to expectations that the situation would abate with time.

The CEPEJ Boss said the lingering crisis could be resolved through the enactment of a Law by the State Legislature to protect farmers and residents living in various towns and villages of Delta State, and urged the State Government to set up inter-Local Govt Area herdsmen policing groups to checkmate the activities of the militant herders.

On how to secure the State against further attacks by herdsmen, Comrade Mulade, charged the State Government to do the needful by setting up a Special Security outfit to monitor the activities of herdsmen, who are out to destroy lives under the guise of nomadic cattle rearing.

He lamented that In recent times, Delta State experienced the killing of innocent people, as well as married women and girls being raped, leaving the families of the deceased in poverty and disillusionment without any hope of care and survival.

One of such, he said, was the attack on Agadama and Avwon in Uwheru Kingdom Ughelli North LGA, leaving over eight persons dead and several others injured with bullet wounds. He added that the State had also witnessed the kidnapping and killing of community Chiefs and Traditional Rulers, which have caused tension in parts of the State.

He listed Isoko, Abraka, Ewhen, Ughelli, Kwale, Okpe, Ukwani Patani and Ndokwa as the worst hit areas of the State. Whlie condeming the attacks in those areas by herdsmen Comrade Sheriff advised the State Government to beef up security across the State especially in the areas earlier listed.

He also advised the State Government to empower communities to establish a Vigilante group called Delta State Herdsmen Community Watch (DSHCW) under the supervision of the Police to help checkmate armed herdsmen whose activities he described as barbaric and unbearable.

While commending the efforts of the State Government, the State House of Assembly and communities for their vigilance and methods of safeguarding the lives and property of the people, Comrade Mulade advised all to be vigilant in their areas especially when on their ways to the farm.

He commended the efforts of the State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and members of the State House of Assembly in conjunction with the Police for their quick responses in areas where such attacks were carried out.

While acknowledging the sanctity of human life, the NGO Boss emphasized that life should not be taken for granted but it should be protected, and urged the people to report any suspicious person to security agents, to save them from being further attacked by deadly armed Fulani herdsmen.