Barely 24 hours after Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State inaugurated a 19-member committee for the implementation of the state Anti-Open grazing law, a councillor from Ethiope East Local Government Council, Jude Adjekpovu, has died from gunshot wounds inflicted on him by Fulani herdsmen.
The New Diplomat learnt that the lawmaker who was returning from a function ran into a road block mounted by the armed Fulani kidnap gang who fired several shots at on Eku-Abraka road on Saturday December 4, 2021. He was injured in the stomach.
He was said to have been rushed to a private hospital in Warri where he has been receiving treatment. He however died in the early hours of Thursday December 16, 2021.
He represented Ward 17 Ovu-Inland, Ethiope East Local Government Council before his demise.
Incidentally, just yesterday, Okowa inaugurated a 19-member Livestock Management Committee saddled with the implementation of the Anti-Open grazing bill which he signed into law about three months ago.
Inaugurating the committee in Asaba yesterday, Okowa charged the members to ensure effective implementation of the Delta State Livestock, Breeding, Rearing and Marketing Regulation Bill 2021.
“A few weeks ago, the Delta State House of Assembly passed the Delta State Livestock, Breeding, Rearing and Marketing Regulation Bill 2021.
“I must thank them sincerely for putting a seal in the law, which was an Executive Bill following the resolution of the Southern Governors’ Forum, which met in Asaba.
“I want to use this medium to thank members who have accepted to serve in the committee. There is no doubt that we have been living peacefully with our brothers from the North.
“Unfortunately, over time, we have a lot of persons who have come into our bushes and many times unknown to those whom our people relate with and they have turned our bushes into a den of criminality.
“They have been involved in kidnapping, killings and raping of our women and extorting people going about their legitimate businesses.
“Some of them deliberately take their cattle to farms and consume crops belonging to farmers, and obviously, this is not acceptable. So, this law is put together to regulate livestock management in the state,” he said.
Okowa advised the committee members to be mindful of those who are engaged in genuine businesses of cattle-rearing, noting that it is necessary to protect farmers from attack by criminal-minded persons across the state.
Members of the committee include the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Julius Egbedi, who is the chairman; Dr Augustine Ojogbo, as Secretary; Mr David Tonwe, Matthew Ossai, Christopher Owho, Otogo Samuel, Julius Omunizua, Dr Charles Diai as members, Austine Duru, Jonah Nwigwe, Victor Duruegbuso, Cletus Bebefaugha and Michael EsegbaVictor Okolie.
Other members are Erhuvwu Akpoghene, Frank Aghara, Christian Edhughoro, Alhaji Shuwa Adamu and Mr. Chuks Acha.
The New Diplomat’s finding however revealed that since the signing into law by the state governor about three months ago, open-grazing by Fulani herdsmen in Delta State bushes has not in anyway ceased.
Our corresponded gathered that incidents of road blocks and kidnappings have increased in the past few months, making Deltans wonder as to the effectiveness of the anti-open grazing law in the state.
