There are palpable fears among the people of Ayokoromo community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State as some Fulani herdsmen have threatened to forcefully grab their land for rearing of their cattle, DAILY POST can exclusively report.
It was gathered that three unidentified Fulani herdsmen who claimed to have been sent by the Delta State Chairman of Fulanis in Asaba, entered Ayakoromo community without invitation by the community’s elders, leaders and executive on Friday December 30th, 2016, the same day the Ayakoromo community was celebrating its Annual Festival to claim part of the land for grazing purposes.
Some elders and executive members of Ayakoromo community rejected the requests of the Fulani herdsmen on the grounds that the community forbids strangers from entering into their land during their Annual Festival let alone attempting to claim their forest, but the Fulani herdsmen responded by saying that they have freedom to move their cattle to anywhere in Nigeria and as such they will come to Ayakoromo town with their cattle whether the Community likes it or not.
The Herdsmen left Ayakoromo Community on the grounds that they were going to get directives from their boss in Asaba after the people insisted that they observe their tradition which forbids people from entering any of their forest for as long as the festivity lasts.
In a statement signed by Comrades, Austin Ozobo and Alaowei Cleric, Esq Acting President and member of Ayakoromo Activist Forum respectively and made available to DAILY POST Stated that the development is causing serious tension in the community as many of their women can no longer go to their farms for fear of not being victims of rape and kidnapping.
“Tempers have flared as our people are highly infuriated. While we are appealing to our restive youths to be calm on the face of the provocation” the statement said, calling on relevant authorities to prevail on the Fulani invaders to quit their lands.
“We do not want our community to experience serial invasions by these murderous HERDSMEN who kidnaped, maimed and killed their hosts at will.
“The incident in Isele_Uku where their monarch was abducted and killed by herdsmen is still very fresh in our minds. This is just one out of 100 incidents of Fulani Herdsman’s act of brigandage to our neighbours in Delta State alone. Ayakoromo people are still nursing the wounds of the December 1st 2010 military bombardments and we cannot afford to add another of such horrendous experience to our dear lives.”
The Delta State Acting Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Andrew Aniamak in a chat with DAILYPOST stated that he is yet to confirm the matter but assured that if truly the position is true, the Police Command will deal decisively with anyone who breaks the law of the land.
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