House of Representatives member representing Ughelli North, South and Udu Federal constituency, Rev Francis Ejiroghene Waive, has called for an unbiased investigation into the killing and maiming of people of Agadama, Port -Avworon of Uwheru community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Waive made the call when he visited Agadama community to commiserate with the people on Saturday and get on-the-spot-assessment of the area.
“I have come to specifically sympathise with families of my people that were killed and injured by these suspected herdsmen.
“As soon as I heard of the attack, the first thing I did was to contact community leaders, party leaders and government officials, the local government chairman, the Commander, 222 Battalion of the Nigeria Army, the Area commander and all other higher authorities to monitor the situation and ensure that peace is restored as a matter of urgency.
“We have to find out what happened to know the exact situation and endearing solutions that will ensure that this does not repeat itself because what has happened to the people of Agadama and Avwon is condemnable and it calls for unbiased investigations.
“There should be proper investigations to unveil whoever that is behind this gruesome attack (they must) be brought to book to face the wrath of the law.
“Your pain is my pain and I am in touch with the authorities concerned to ensure that you are all protected,” he lamented.
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“It’s very painful that our people have deserted their homes, so, I came to sympathise with our people of Uwheru and by the grace of God, this, would be the last incident of attack.
“I appeal for calm; I appeal for peace so that those who have left the community can come back. I have the assurances of the law enforcement agencies that they would not come here to harass anybody anymore.
“And I want to specifically sympathise with the specific families that lost their loved ones, I want to specifically sympathise with those who are injured, please take heart, those who are the hospital, we will try to augments their expenses because they are our people and we cannot leave them alone.
“Our distinguished senator, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege is also meeting with other leaders at the national level, as we are strategising on what we can do to ensure that nobody touches you anymore and this thing does not happen again,” he added.
The chairman of Agadama community, Mr Sunday Iniovogoma in his emotion-laden speech said, “this attack is on yearly basis and our people have been passing through difficulties, there is no one year we do not lose souls to these killer herdsmen and the lowest is three or four, but the one of this year is the worst you can talk off.”
He added that, “10 persons were killed by herdsmen in this recent attack, two were killed in Avwon and the other eight were killed in Agadama and many others who sustained life-threatening bullet injuries are receiving treatment at various hospitals across the state.”
He appealed to Waive to kindly beg the Chief of Army Staff to protect the people, saying “because we are not slaves but indigenes of the soil and if nothing is done, we will have no option but defends ourselves.”
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