N’ Delta Youth Tackle Northern Govs …Over View On Herdsmen Attacks

L-R: Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists, Rivers State Council, Comrade Omoni Ayo-Tamuno, Director, Public Enlightment, Ministry of Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim and General Manager, Radio Rivers, Mr Sampson Fiberesima, during the 2016 World Press Freedom Day organised by NUJ in Port Harcourt, yesterday

Youth of the Niger Delta region have described as irresponsible and questionable the stand taken by the forum of Northern Governors over attacks of Fulani Herdsmen on communities in the Middle Belt and Southern part of the country.
The youth, who reacted under the aegis of Niger Delta Youth Coalition (NDYC), said the position jointly taken by the Northern Governors Forum was a clear and direct indication of support to the activities of the herdsmen, which according to them, has capacity to embolden the criminal group.
National Co-ordinator of NDYC, Prince Emmanuel Ogba, tagged the Fulani Herdsmen as terrorists, who use cows as disguise to perpetrate heinous crimes by raping wives and daughters of the Southern Nigeria, killing, maiming and sacking communities.
The sin of those victims who were killed is that they refused to allow the hersemen use their farm crops as feeds to Fulanis’ cattle even in their own land, he said.
“It beats my imagination that governors who should be seen as responsible public leaders in all ramifications and civilized disposition, could encourage the activities of the terrorists. It is indeed a big shame for our nation”, he said, and advised the forum to apologise to the nation for their collective and irresponsible utterances.
He said such utterances have dangerous implication for the security of Nigeria considering the effects of the unending Boko Haram menace in the North.
Ogba commended the National Assembly for its recent stand on the issue, noting however, that the delayed intervention of Federal Government on the issue was an unfortunate development.
The Youth leaders, however, demanded that the security agencies arrest and prosecute all those involved in the shameless killing of innocent Nigerians without provocation.
He also called on the security agencies to investigate how the Fulani herdsmen came in possession of sophisticated weapons such as Ak 47, dynamites and granades.
“We must know how Ak 47, granades, and dynamites got into their hands. It is a clear indication that powerful individuals and groups are at the background giving them the support”, said the NDYC boss.
He called on the Southern States, particularly the six Niger Delta States’ House of Assembly to immediately begin the process of enacting laws outlawing the activities of herdsmen in their states, arguing that such laws should equally make it illegal for any cow rearer or dealer to allow cows stray into the farms or streets.
Ogba also urged members of the National Assembly to reject any motion aimed at creating grazing areas, stressing that cow rearing was a private business and should remain private for the individual owners.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has restated his administration’s resolve to deal decisively and expeditiously with reported cases of continued attacks on communities across the country by armed herdsmen.
The president was speaking yesterday night at a meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) held in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said that President Buhari confirmed that heads of national security agencies had been ordered to take all necessary action to apprehend and expose those behind the heinous attacks.
“We are determined to secure all Nigerians and I have told the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies, in very strong terms, to deal decisively with the attackers,’’ he said.
President Buhari expressed his personal condolences to the Catholic Bishop of Enugu, the people of Ukpabi Nimbo and all other communities that had suffered fatalities and other losses from the recent attacks.
Speaking on other national issues, the statement quoted the President as assuring the Bishops that he was acting with deliberation and moving methodically to implement his Change Agenda for the good of the country.
“We need to rebuild our institutions methodically, we need to change the way we do things.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has informed President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigerians cannot continue to live in the grip of fear of attacks perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen across the country.
The position of the bishops was contained in a statement the Catholic clergy presented at their meeting with Mr President at the Presidential Villa, on Monday.
This came as the founder of the Marian Soup Kitchen (MSK) and Parish Priest of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Gwarinpa, Abuja, Rev. Dr Willy Ojukwu, said the on-going onslaught by the Fulani herdsmen is another form of Boko Haram insurgency in the country.
He made the remarks while speaking to journalists in Abuja ahead of the commissioning of a N300 million skill acquisition and humanitarian centre by Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Sa’ad Abubakar III , this week.
Speaking against the backdrop of the recent sporadic attacks by herdsmen across the country, Ojukwu said: “The primary job of any government at all levels is to protect the lives and property of the citizens. Presently in Nigeria, Boko Haram inflicts a lot of pain and hardship, destroys lives and property. Initially the government of the day took it lightly, till it went out of hand.
Similarly, Irked by the incessant violent activities perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen across parts of the country, Nigerian residents in the United Kingdom, have staged a protest at the UK Westminister Parliament to condemn the killings and destructions by armed herdsmen, as well as draw the attention of global authorities to wade into the wanton killings.
According to Mr. Chidi Ughonu, Coordinator, London Protest Against Fulani Herdsmen, the protest is coming in response to last week’s attack at Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani community in Enugu State, where six people were killed with scores wounded and properties destroyed by suspected herdsmen.
Noting that similar attacks have happened in Agatu, Benue State, Ughonu said the protest tagged the ‘London Protest Against Fulani Herdsmen’, is also planned simultaneously in United States, Canada and across the cities in Europe.

Chris Oluoh