By John Oghojafor,
South-South Bureau Chief,
Following incessant attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen on the people of Ethiope East in the Delta State, that has left several people dead, the lawmaker representing the area in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Evance Ivwurie, has again raised an alarm.
The lawmaker has this time petitioned Presidents Muhammadu Buhari, and The United Nations, UN among other leaders and security agencies.
In the petition, the lawmaker asked them to urgently intervene in the unwarranted attacks by the herdsmen on residents of Abraka and other communities in his constituency, which he said have led to the destruction of several lives and property worth billions of naira.
It would be recalled that Hon Ivwurie had also raised an alarm over the activities of the herdsmen, and warned that their activities was bound to set off a spree of killings and destruction in the area.
He had stated then, that it was observed that the herdsmen receive supplies from a helicopter which flies into the area they occupy at regular intervals.
Ivwurie in his petition, said “It is with a heavy heart that I write to bring to your attention, the continuous deterioration of the security and unwarranted loss of life and property in my constituency and to urgently seek your intervention to bring an end to the wanton killings, maiming and raping of my people by suspected Fulani herdsmen at Ovre Abraka/Eku/Igun in Ethiope East LGA of Delta State,” part of the letter read.
Giving insight into the fresh attack, he said “On Monday April 24th, 2017 my constituency was thrown into pandemonium as Mr Solomon Ejor, a native of Urhuoka – Abraka, an iron bender/ welder, married with children whose mother was held captive by suspected Fulani Herdsmen in her Abraka farmland, was ambushed, shot and beheaded (ISIS style execution) when he attempted to rescue his mother from the captivity of the said Fulani Herdsmen in the area. This incident threw the community into turmoil and led to widespread protests by the youth such as has not been seen in the community before. The news media, electronic, print and social media have reported the development extensively. Also the incident has been reported to the Divisional Police Officer, Abraka for investigation but as with other previous occurrences there do not seem to be much confidence of any conclusive investigation into the matter.
According to Ivwurie, “Unfortunately, this was not the first of such incidence of unprovoked and unjustifiable killing of my people by the Fulani Herdsmen. I am fully aware that on Saturday 25th March, 2017, one Mr. Sunday Idama, a 50year old father of 14 children and a senior Staff of the Library Department of the Delta State University, Abraka, was cruelly slaughtered in his farmland at Abraka. Prior to that was the killing, on the 3rd January, 2017, of two indigenes of Eku and Igun in my constituency namely Mr. Sunday Couple and Mr. Eyabigun Akpovena residing in Urhuoka – Abraka. They were said to have been butchered to pieces by the suspected Fulani Herdsmen as though they were common cows.
He however expressed the fear that owning to the incessant attacks, the university community in Abraka may soon be deserted.
“Sir, it would no doubt interest you to note that the University community of Abraka will soon be deserted owing to the un-abating and growing threats of the suspected Fulani herdsmen to the main community. Presently, it is estimated that over ten thousand herds of cattle and over two thousand marauding and murderous suspected Hausa/Fulani herdsmen armed with sophisticated weaponry including AK47 are now concentrated and camped at the Ovre r’Abraka/Eku/Igun, across the River Ethiope, from where they not only launch attacks on Abraka/Eku/Igun communities but my entire constituency and neighbouring communities of Okpara, kokori, Isiokolo-Oruakpo, Ovu, Okurekpo and Egbo” he said.
Ivwurie however called on the President and the Federal Government to immediately take action to bring an end to the dangerous state of insecurity in his Constituency, condemn in no unmistaken term these senseless and heartless killings, rapes, attacks and destruction of lives and properties by the suspected Fulani Herdsmen.
Among other demands, Ivwurie urged President Buhari and the international community to immediate set up investigative panel to find out the remote and immediate causes of the unnecessary killings, rapes and attacks by the herdsmen.
While he lamented daily attacks on his constituents and forceful takeover of their farmlands, the lawmaker said he has no other option than make this necessary petition to people that matter both locally and internationally.
