Okowa calls for intelligence gathering to tackle herdsmen

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8 years ago

WORRIED by the recent killing of four farmers by suspected Fulani herdsmen at Ossissa community in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has called for the adoption of intelligence gathering as the best way to tackle the menace in the country.

Okowa made the suggestion when he led top government functionaries to pay an on-the-spot assessment visit to Ossissa community which was recently attacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

He charge members of the community, to “identify, notify security men or government officials on the location of armed herdsmen and they will be dislodged.”

He decried the effects of Fulani herdsmen onslaught on Deltans, calling on communities to be proactive.

He, henceforth, assured that any herdsman caught with dangerous weapon or perceived to be a threat to Deltans would face the laws of the land.

To this end, the governor disclosed that a team of police officers would be dispatched to Ossissa community to check the heinous activities of the herdsmen.

Okowa, who also called for patience, assured Deltans that the Federal Government is working on policies to check activities of herdsmen.

While consoling the bereaved families, the worried governor noted that “No doubt, you people are in severe pains, unfortunately, we lost some people.

Surely, the people who are carrying AK 47 assault rifles and other unlicensed weapons are not on the side of the law and anyone who is caught with such will face the wrath of the law.”

He urged the community to remain peaceful and law abiding, while security men carry out their duties as expected of them.

Meanwhile, some members of community, while recalling their ordeals in the hands of the herdsmen in placards with varying inscriptions, disclosed that some of them had died during the herdsmen attacks.

One of the community members, Mr Joseph Kukaye, called on the government to take proactive steps to check the menace of the herdsmen.

According to him, the fear of being killed in their farms is gradually leading to economic hardship and famine among the people.