Killings By Fulani Herdsmen, Barbaric, Senseless, Says UPU Youth Wing President

By Daniel Dafe
Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Youth Wing, led by Comrade Kelly Efemena Umukoro, has described the killing of Urhobo indigenes and several others injured by marauding Fulani headers as barbaric, senseless, uncivilized and nothing to be proud of.
Comrade Umukoro said this when he paid a visit to some of the communities affected by the alleged murder of Urhobo indigenes by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
This visit, comes after recent reports said that the assault on some Urhobo indigenes was carried out by Fulani herders assisted by men wearing military uniforms believed to be personnel of the Joint Task Force (JTF) of the Nigerian Army from Bomadi.
He noted: “The Fulani herdsmen attack is gradually becoming a daily routine in Urhobo communities of Agadama, Ohorho, Agbarho, Abraka, Uwheru and environs.
While calling on all local government authorities in Urhobo land to put into judicious use the security votes accruing to them to ensure safety of lives and property in their domain, he urged Members of the Delta State House of Assembly to push for the ‘Anti-open Grazing’ bill to be made law in the state.
This, he said will put a total end to the daily Fulani herdsmen attacks.
Furthermore, he called on the Delta State and Federal governments to rise up to the challenges of insecurity bedeviling various Urhobo communities, Delta State and Nigeria at large, saying that people no longer sleep with their two eyes closed.
According to him, the visit was to get an on the spot assessment of the incident. Comrade Umukoro who was accompanied by other Urhobo Youths leaders on the said visit to Agadama, Ohorho and Uwheru communities, also met the Agadama community youths president.
He assured the community leaders present that an attack on Agadama or any other Urhobo community is an attack on the entire Urhobo youths, adding that these killings will not be treated with kid gloves henceforth.
In a related development, during a closed door meeting with the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, the president discussed extensively on security issues bordering on Fulani herdsmen killings, cult clashes and the defense of human rights in Urhobo Nation and Delta State.
In his response, the CP assured the UPU youth wing president that he is a disciplinarian and that police men under his command would not be allowed to abuse human rights in the state.
Furthermore, the police boss urged the Urhobo youths leader to ensure that citizens also see the police as their friends and give them quick information to help them work effectively, as he used the medium to condole with the affected families in communities where the Fulani herdsmen killings occurred.
In a press statement made available to this medium, the president said: “In as much as we are pained, we call on our people to remain calm, law abiding and be vigilant.
Continuing, he said: “We advise them not to take laws into their hands, as the leadership of the UPU youth wing is in touch with various security agents and relevant stakeholders to ensure this invasion of our communities do not occur again.
The youth leader thanked the Commissioner of Police, Hafiz Inuwa, Major A. Jarma and the Governor of Delta State, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa for their swift response which prevented the intruder from invading deep into our community before they were repelled by gallant police officers led by their Area Commander, James Moses.
He added: “The Urhobo people are known for welcoming strangers but we would not tolerate, attack from the same strangers who we give our houses, food and water to.
He said: “Suffice to say that if the Federal Government and State Government fail to put an end to these incessant killings of Urhobo people in Urhobo land by these marauding Fulani herdsmen, we wish to state categorically that we the Urhobo youths have the capacity to stop them if the need arises. Our simplicity should not be taken for stupidity.”