Fulani Leaders Disowns Jihadists’ Planned Attack In Delta

By Onome Oghenetega

Fulani leaders and indigenes living in Delta State on Monday denounced having connection with the “Fulani Jihadists” group who threatened to attack the state over the ban on open grazing.

They also faulted the 72-hour ultimatum issued to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa by the group to recede the ban on open grazing of cattle jointly declared by southern governors.

NIGER DELTA TODAY (NDT) Online reports that a group of Fulani Jihadists in a statement on Sunday had given Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, a 72-hour ultimatum to withdraw his support for the ban on open grazing in the state.

The Fulani fundamentalists warned that failure by Governor Okowa to suspend the ban on open grazing in the state, their warlords who are already present in the state, will unleash mayhem and attack Asaba, the state capital and Agbor area of the state.

The Fulani Jihadists’ is coming weeks after governors of the southern states of the country unanimously ban open grazing of cattle in the region as one of the panaceas for the worsening insecurity in the region.

ALSO READ: Tension As ‘Fulani’ Group Writes Okowa, Threatens To Attack Delta

But speaking at a joint press briefing on Monday in Asaba, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Alhaji Muktar Usman, stated that the alleged ultimatum and planned attack on the state does not enjoy the blessings of Fulani people living in Delta.

Usman, flanked by the leadership of the Fulanis, expressed shock at the news of the alleged planned attack, noted that the Fulani community had been living in fear of possible attack from their host communities since the news of the threat broke.

According to him, “Yesterday was a very sad story for the leadership of Fulani in Delta. We woke up to see the viral report in the media that suspected Fulani Jihadists threatened to attack Delta State.

“We are very very disappointed in that threat and we are calling on the Governor of Delta, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and security agencies in the state to know that we are not part and parcel of that threat.

“We are Nigerians and we have good understanding with our host communities having lived here for over 40 years.

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“We are calling on government to fish out those people that are behind the alleged threat because we are not part of it and we can never be part of it.

“We are in very good understanding with our host communities and we must thank the Governor because we are accepted more here in Delta than even in our respective states.

“So, I want to call on all our peace-loving people to remain calm and avoid unnecessary tension because since yesterday our people have been panicking.

“We are telling the world today that we condemn this act in all ramifications, we are not part of it and we don’t intend to fight anybody, we are peace-loving people.”

ALSO READ: Ban On Open Grazing: Niger Delta People Will Resist Fulani Jihadists’ Attack With ‘All Might’ – Clark

Also speaking, Leader of the Fulani in Delta, Alhaji Musa Mohammed said the Fulani were peace loving people having settled in the state for decades with their children.

“We have lived here for many years and we don’t have problems with the people of the state,” he said.

Those present at the briefing include, Alhaji Musa Muhammed, the Sarki Fulani in the state, Alhaji Musa Muhammed, Chairman of Miyetti Allah in the state, Alhaji Abubakar Haruna, Alhaji Useni Haruna, Sarki Asaba among others.