Egbedi Seeks Synergy With Traditional Rulers To Check Herdsmen Menace In Delta

By Grace Eshedagho

As part of efforts to put an end to incessant farmers and herdsmen clash in Delta State, the Chairman, Delta State Livestock Management Committee, Chief Julius Egbedi has called for synergy with traditional rulers in the state.

Egbedi gave the call during a visit with members of the committee to the Traditional Rulers Council in Asaba.

The chairman, who is the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resoures, said that the collaboration of traditional rulers was pertinent to the efforts of the state government to bring an end to the violence and molestation by herdsmen and would also help bring peace and increase availability of food for Deltans.

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He also sought for support of special task force Officers from various communities as they would be the ones to go into the bushes and arrest errant herdsmen.

The Chairman said the enforcement guard in the various communities would ensure that they watch over routes through which the herders access the communities, adding that it would be properly manned.

He also requested for land space from the Monarchs to enable the herders to graze their cattle rather than using the animals to destroy people’s farmland.

He further explained that the law was to encourage peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders and also to prevent crisis amongst them.,

While intimating the traditional rulers on the activities of the Committee, he said that they had earlier visited the past Chairman of the Council, the Obi of Owa, HRM Obi (Dr) Emmanuel Efeizomor II (JP), the Arewa community and also attended to distress call in Ughelli North Local Government Area.

Responding, the Orodje of Okpe, HRM Major Gen. Felix Mujakperou rtd., assured them of the support of the Council and prayed that the law be enforced as it would be useless if not implemented.

Lamenting the dangers caused by the herdsmen, The Ovie of Oghara, HRM Noble Oyibo Orefe said they had invaded the Western Delta University and molested female students in the school.

Advising members of the Committee, the Ovie of Idjerhe, HRM Monday Obukowho said that the taskforce should be spread across the communities in large number, so as to enable them fish out the defaulting herders.

Intimating the Committee on the routes through which the herdsmen access the state, the Obi of Abavo, HRM Uche Irenuma II, advised that they ensure that when apprehended they should be made to face the law.