ASABA ROYAL FATHER RAISES ALARM – FULANI MEN ARE COMING FOR US, REVEALS SHOCKING LETTER

The traditional ruler of Okpanam, the suburb of Asaba, the Delta State capital, HRM Mbanefo Michael Ogbolu, yesterday, raised the alarm over secret plans by suspected Fulani herdsmen, living in nearby communities of Umuomake village and Obo-dogwugwu farmland to un¬leash surprised attack on Okpanam residents.

In a letter to the Delta State police commissioner, Alkali Baba Usman, titled, “Menace of Fulani Herdsmen In Okpanam Kingdom,” the traditional ruler said, because of the fear of possible attack and the nefarious activities of Fulani herdsmen rampaging the area, Okpanam residents now sleep with only one eye closed.

He said, his independent investigation has revealed that the area the suspected Fulani herdsmen occupy was allegedly sold by Unuomake village to the Delta State Post Primary Education Cooperative Society and in the course of foraging, their cattle destroy their farmlands and wield so¬phisticated weapons to harass harmless Okpanam residents.

Reasoning that the attack may be likened to that which occurred in Nimbo village in Enugu State, the Ugoani appealed to the police commissioner to use his good office to take necessary measures to nip the likely attack in the bud.

The Ugoani, who recalled that sometime in October 2014, he wrote a letter to the then state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and copied the state police commissioner, drawing their attention to the wanton destruction of Okpanam farm land and incessant attacks against Okpanam farmers and indigenes by cattle rearers of Hausa/Fulani extraction, explained that from time immemorial, the main occupation of Okpanam people is farming but unfortunately, the invasion of cattle rearers on the farm lands has made farm¬ing difficult for the people.

“And as if this belligerent attitude is not enough, whenever our farmers appeal to them to shepherd their cattle in a way that they do not damage their farms, they respond with gun fire to scare away our defenseless farmers.

“As a matter of fact, they have installed a Seriki (king) in our forest, and all efforts to reach them with a view to ascertain how they gained access into our land have proved abortive because of the sophisticated weapons they wield”, he said.