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By Amos Okioma, Yenagoa
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has condemned the renewed attacks by suspected herdsmen in Avwon, Agadama, Ohoror, and other communities of Uwheru Kingdom, in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state that have led to the death of over eight persons.
According to Okowa, suspected herdsmen, accompanied by unidentified armed personnel, attacked the communities in what has become an annual routine, killing over eight persons and injuring many others.
He said the crisis started on Thursday and as of Saturday, lives, and property, including farms, had perished.
The governor said, “The unwarranted attacks and killing of innocent locals in Avwon, Agadama and Ohoror communities of Uwheru Kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area and the wickedness of suspected herdsmen alleged to be aided by unidentified military personnel are mindless.
“I, however, appeal to the affected communities to remain calm and peaceful. I commiserate with the communities and families on the unfortunate loss of their loved ones.
“I have directed the commissioner of Police and the Brigade commander, 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, to rise to the occasion and bring the culprits to justice.
“As a state, our people have been very receptive to herdsmen and other visitors, but our hospitality and welcoming disposition should not be taken as an act of cowardice.
“The state government will continue to encourage peaceful and harmonious relations between Deltans and their visitors but will not watch outsiders attack and kill our people any longer.”
A member of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Emma Oghene Egoh, who represents Odofin Amuwo Federal constituency, but hails from the Uwheru community, had earlier raised the alarm and called on the relevant authorities, the Delta State and federal governments to come to their aid to avoid further calamity.
Meanwhile, the people of Agadama, Avwon had deserted their communities as result of the military’s collaboration with the herdsmen to shoot at innocent farmers, since the farming season began, as any body found with cutlass while returning from farms was shot at.
According to Mr Godspwer Amradje, a community leader, the community is currently under siege and people living in fear and cannot go to their farms, adding that this might likely lead to famine and food scarcity since this is the peak of their farming period when they engage in planting yams, potatoes, pepper and sundry crops which is the economic mainstay of the agrian community.
He alleged that the military men deployed from Bomadi, instead of assisting those from Agbarha otor to make peace, have aided the herdsmen to shoot at anybody at sight, even in the presence of the councillor representing the ward, Hon Aboni Amradje, and Ughelli North local council chairman, Hon Godwin Adode.
Sources claim the military had abdicated their role of peace keeping and have turned “to harassing girls and drinking in beer parlous. Apart from the aged men and women, the productive and able-bodied men had run to take refuge outside the communities.”
The councillor representing the ward, Hon Aboni Amradje, noted that the roles of the military men from Bomadi should be investigated by the military authorities, while calling for the setting up of internal displaced persons camps.
