By Onome Oghenetega
Palpable tension has once again gripped Avwon, Agadama, Ohoror and other communities of Uwheru Kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State as herdsmen have allegedly killed no fewer than ten farmers in the area.
It was learnt that the armed herdsmen launched repeated attacks on the communities between Thursday and Friday where the victims were killed in different locations in the communities.
NIGER DELTA TODAY Online reliably learnt that as at on Saturday afternoon no fewer than ten corpses have been recovered when people of the communities and military personnel combed the area for the bodies of the deceased.
Community sources in the area told our correspondent that Friday’s attack by herdsmen was said to have been led by gunmen dressed in military uniform who launched unprovoked attack on the agrarian communities.
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Senior government officials who hail from the area told our correspondent that their communities have been taken over by herdsmen who launched attacks on locals at will.
The officials who spoke on condition of anonymity claimed that the casualty was far more than ten as more missing person were still being search for by security agencies and members of the community.
“Two nights ago including last night Fulani herdsmen killed some people as usual in their farm lands. The attacks usually happened in the farms and as we speak our people cannot go to their farms because the herdsmen have taken over almost all the communities. The communities are comfortably under their control.
“Many of the victims are still in the bushes and other parts of the communities. About ten of them have been recovered while others are still missing. Usually, when they kill, they wait for those that will come for the dead bodies and also kill them. Many of those recovered were burnt beyond recognition”, one of the sources claimed.
The medium further learnt that many residents of the affected communities had fled their homes for safety to neighbouring communities of Ughelli, Evwreni and other places.
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Meanwhile, the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has condemned the killing while urging the people of the area to remain calm.
In a statement signed by the Okowa’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, confirmed that at least eight persons have been killed in the renewed attacks in the communities.
“According to reports from the communities, herdsmen accompanied by unidentified army personnel stormed the communities in an unprovoked attack that has become an annual routine, killed no fewer than eight persons and injured many others.
“The reports revealed that the crisis started on Thursday and that as at Saturday, lives and property, including farms, had been lost”, Okowa said in the statement.
He called for restraint from the warring parties, saying that he had directed the Commissioner of Police and the Brigade Commander, 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Asaba, to as a matter of urgency ensure that peace was restored to the communities.
The governor charged the Nigerian Army to investigate the alleged involvement of its personnel in the crisis and fish out the perpetrators in the unwarranted killings.
“The unwarranted attacks and killing of innocent locals in Avwon, Agadama and Ohoror communities of Uwheru kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area and the wickedness of suspected criminal herdsmen alleged to be aided and abetted by unidentified military personnel are mindless.
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“I, however, appeal to the affected communities to remain calm and peaceful. I commiserate with the communities and families on the unfortunate loss of their loved ones.
“I have directed the Commissioner of Police and the Brigade Commander, 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, to rise to the occasion and bring the culprits to justice.
“As a state, our people have been very receptive to herdsmen and other visitors, but our hospitality and welcoming disposition should not be taken as act of cowardice.
“The state government will continue to encourage peaceful and harmonious relations between Deltans and their visitors, but will not watch outsiders attack and kill our people any longer,” the governor stated.
Okowa is not treating this issue the way it deserves. Sad!! Dimple thing is to call on the youths to stand and defend their communities any way they deem possible. Nobody can take the life of another and go scot free.