The youths of Ndokwa land in Delta State have protested frequent attacks on their communities by Fulani herdsmen, calling on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to come to their rescue.
In a protest letter to the Governor dated November 4, 2014, the youths said the Fulani herdsmen have continued to pose threat to peaceful co-existence of the people in Ndokwa land.
The letter written under the aegis of Movement for the Emancipation and Survival of Ndokwa Nation (MESONN) and signed by its President, Chibuzo Obi, is reproduced below:
The Executive Governor,
Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan,
Delta State Government.
Asaba, Delta State.
Sir,
LETTER OF PROTEST OVER DISCRIMINATE ATTACK OF NDOKWA COMMUNITIES BY FULANI HERDSMEN.
The entire youths of Ndokwa Nation under the above named body wish to bring to your notice the recent happenings on Ndokwa land by Fulani herdsmen.
A year after the Delta State Government claimed to have banned the entry of herdsmen into the State, the movement of herdsmen in Ndokwa land is still yet unrestrained and still remains a continuous threat to the peaceful coexistence of the people. The following reports are for your information.
1. Sometimes last year, a group of herdsmen attacked Ogume community in Ndokwa land killing ten persons. The matter was reported to the appropriate government security agencies, up till date, nothing has been done to bring the perpetuator to book, neither has justice been accrued to the affected families.
2. Only recently, there was an attack at Afor community of Ndokwa land which resulted to hostility between the community youths and the herdsmen. Rather than the Nigeria Police deliberating on the salient issue of attack and bringing justice to the people, they rather displayed a high level of bias by arresting the father of a youth leader who the Fulani herdsmen accused of stealing their Ak-47 gun! Why would herdsmen have Ak-47 gun on our soil, intimidating us with it, and when we finally bring to the notice of our security agencies, their activities our security agencies end up, protecting the interest of these intruders at the safety of our people.
3. Only recently another attack has been launched against the same Ndokwa land, Umuachi Afor, precisely this time, an Ndokwa son was killed with six other kidnapped in their bid to search for the missing Ak-47 gun, the herdsmen invaded the community, the youth repelled the attack only to lead to further counter attacks by the blood sucking herdsmen. The Umuachi community leaders were later invited to Ashaka Police station to address the issue in which the youth so accused denied snatching any Ak47. But not done yet, the Fulam herdsmen invaded the community yet again on the early morning of 2nd November 2014, killing one youth and taking away the wife of Hon. London Onwuka, his daughter, two of his sons and the son of Chief Anthony Obodoeshike. Meanwhile, the police has taken into custody the father of the youth who was accused of snatching the Ak-47.
4. Up till date, neither a full security report has been made of the Ogume killing incident,, nor has justice been brought to the people.
After an emergency meeting of all community youth leaders in Ndokwa Nation, we have reached the following resolutions:
1. The Ndokwa people will no longer tolerate the movement of herdsmen on Ndokwa land henceforth. In other words, we are calling for the immediate stoppage of cattle grazing on Ndokwa Nation.
2. We demand the report of the committee on the Ogume killing of 2013 to be made public and compensation be made to the families of the aggrieved.
3) We demand the immediate arrest of the killers of Afor one and other reported cases in Ndokwa land.
4) We demand to know, which part of Nigerian law guarantees Fulani herdsmen freedom to carry assorted riffle (AK-47) and forbids same to an Ndokwa man even ordinary hunters gun.
5) Considering the security situation in the North-East, these intruders may be on a suicide mission in our soil, as they have clearly demonstrated by killing and burning of our houses, most recently at Afor.
6) As a peace loving people, we are at this notice, giving the government a twenty-one day ultimatum to resolve the above issues. Failure of the government to guarantee justice, safety and unity of our people will in turn lead us into outsourcing for this by whatever means necessary.
As a law abiding people, we believe this letter is in line with the principle of fairness, appropriateness, respect for the sovereignty of the government and the major attempt towards resolving the issues of Fulani herdsmen movement on our land.
This is the last letter we shall write on the issue of herdsmen movement on our land. We shall resist every form of oppression, attack, misdemeanor, kidnappings and killings by herdsmen or any other group in Ndokwa.
Where the government fails to carry out it’s obligation of maintaining law and order, we shall, as a united Nation, maintain law and order, as we have always done prior to the emergence of the Nigerian State; taking into account the Obi of Aboh and Landers brother and many other unrecorded cases. We wish to repeat for the purpose of clarity, that we demand that entire issues raised above be addressed as soon as possible. As a peace loving people, we are at this notice, giving the government twenty-one day ultimatum to resolve the above issues. Failure of the government to guarantee justice, safety and unity of our people will in turn lead us into outsourcing for this by whatever means necessary, including the shoo away of any group we perceive as suspected terrorist on our soil.
A stitch in time saves nine.
MESONN Says Enough is Enough!
Long live MESONN!
Long live Ndokwa Nation!
Long live Delta State!
Long live Federal public of Nigeria!!!
Signed:
Comrade Pedro Chibuzo Obi,
President, Movement for the Emancipation and Survival of Ndokwa Nation (MESONN).
Comrade Ossai Tony Osborg,
Secretary, Movement for the Emancipation and Survival of Ndokwa Nation (MESONN).
Cc:
Delta State House of Assembly.
Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command.
