By Ovie Okpare
Angry youths have reportedly attacked a Fulani settlement in Obodogba community of Okpanam town, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.
It was gathered that the youths attacked the settlement on Saturday over the reported killing of a youth and a vigilante members on Wednesday night by suspected herdsmen.
Sources claimed the attack was in retaliation to the killing of two persons.
The vigilante members had stormed the bush in search of a woman and her daughter who were kidnapped from their home in Okpanam, when they were ambushed by gunmen who opened fire killing two and injuring another in the process.
Irked by the killing, youths of the town who accused Fulani herdsmen for incessant attacks, killings and kidnappings, mobilised and stormed the camp of the herdsmen to raze the small huts, killed one cow and destroyed other property.
The irate mob was said to have stormed the settlement when Fulani men were in the field tending their cows.
They met defenceless women, some of whom alleged that they were abused after their children ran into the bush for safety.
Leader of the Fulani settlement, Abubakar Haruna alleged that the irate mob also carted away their money from their homes before setting the structures ablaze.
Haruna said “none of our members has ever be involved in any crime. We properly negotiated with Okpanam community before the land is which is located in the interior was released to us after payment of some amount of money.”
He appealed to the state government to come to their aid, lamenting that they have been exposed to insecurity and the elements of weather.
But the youth president of Obodogba community, Comrade Christopher Agali denied that the razing of the Fulani settlement was carried out by youth from the community.
