Following reports yesterday of mass killing in Ohali-Elu town in
Rivers State allegedly perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen, a youthsgroup
known as the Niger Delta Youths Coalition (NDYC) has condemned the
dastardly act as it also called on Ms AnkioBriggs to hurriedly lead a
protest to condemn the attack.
The herdsmen who were in the midst of the indigenes of the town were
said to have unleashed terror on the people following clash over
grazing land in the community, an action which left a pastor and 20
others dead.
Ankio Briggs, an indigene of the state, had earlier criticized
theBayelsa State Government over its decision to create a grazing
reserve for the Fulani herdsmen in the state as a logical step to nip
in the bud such rampant clashes between herdsmen and the locals across
the country.
But in a statement yesterday and signed by its spokesman, Matthew
Fobiri, the group said it must be clear to Ms Briggs by now that the
decision of the Bayelsa State Government to restrict the herdsmen to
the palm area in the state was to avoid the kind of killings which
took place in Ohali-Elu in Rivers State.
In the statement made available to journalists in Port Harcourt
yesterday, the group pointed out that “in the light of the terrible
fate that has befallen the Rivers community with many deaths recorded
in just one attack”, Ankio Briggs owed the BayelsaGovernment an
apology for kicking against a proactive measure put in place to check
any form of security breach that may lead to loss of lives as was the
case in Rivers.
The group opined that the action of Bayelsa State Government must be
commended and called on the Rivers State Government to adopt same so
as to forestall recurrence and preempt herdsmen/farmers’ clashes as
seen in many other states including that of neighbouring Delta State
“where people have been killed by Fulani herdsmen in the last couple
of months”.
“Interestingly and in true reflection of the wisdom behind the step by
the Bayelsa State Government, its decision to create a reserved
grazing area for herdsmen, contrary to Ms AnkioBriggs’ insensitive
criticisms, has been well applauded by well meaning Nigerians across
different socio-cultural strata. It’s clearly a responsible decision
by a responsible leadership”, it stated.