In the bid to give proper definition and lasting solution to the incessant attack on communities, farmers by Hausa/Fulani cattle rearers, the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barr Kingsley Otuaro has stressed the need to carefully separate the criminal minded ones from the ones that are lawfully living in the state.
Barr Otuaro gave this suggestion in Asaba while responding to a group of protesters drawn from the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
According to him the administration of Okowa is not only to protect the natives of the state, but everyone that are lawfully living in Delta State.
“So there is a burden on us as a government as well as on our community people to be able to separate those that are lawfully living amongst us and those that have taken into criminality, raping and maiming our children, our wives and causing all kinds of criminality in our community” he stated.
He noted that as Nigerians, we are one and same people, binded by the constitution and as such a genuine Fulani man have a legal right to reside in any part of Delta State. “That is the right accorded them by virtue of the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Barr Kingsley Otuaro assured that the administration of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is presently taking a serious and critical look at the issues adding that stakeholders’ meetings would be held within the next two weeks.
Speaking at the instance of Delta Central, Delta North and Delta South, Comr. Godwin Jacob, Comr. Henry Onwuamalieze and Mr. Warrri Erigues jointly averred that the protest is in reaction to the rampant killings, armed robbery and wanton destruction of farm land and crops, raping of women by Fulani Headmen in their communities.
In the wake of the protest, a twenty-one days ultimatum was issued within which the state government is to look for an alternative place for the grazing activities of the Fulani headsmen to leave their land in peace.