Soldiers from the Bomadi Army Camp and Police units from Ughelli Command have been deployed to Uwheru community in Ughelli North Local Council, Delta State, after the community was invaded by Fulani herdsmen.
According to leaders of the community, over 10 persons were reported to be killed after the attack; although the police has said the number could not be verified as they were yet to see the corpses of those killed.
DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya who is the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), when contacted said the Police Area Commander and the DPO of Ughelli division were at Uwheru community investigating the incident and that they were yet to see the bodies of those killed as alleged by the community.
The crisis began on Thursday, when herdsmen arrived the community with a large number of cows and destroyed farms. The youths mobilized and warded them off their farms, but the herdsmen regrouped, armed themselves and returned to the community killing four persons at separate locations.
Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, who is the Commissioner for Higher Education and an indigene of the community, the President General of Uwheru community, Cassidy Akpodefa, said that corpses of individuals killed have been retrieved while others are yet to be seen.
Prof. Patrick Muoboghare emphasized and accused the Army of collaborating with the herdsmen in Uwheru, saying after the herdsmen had finished killing, the soldiers were deployed to the community to protect the herdsmen from reprisal attacks. He noted that the Fulani herdsmen killed over 50 people in the community and the constant killings were a plot to take over their land.
Mr. Cassidy Akpodefa appealed to the Delta State Government to intervene and save the community from the yearly invasion by the Fulani herdsmen, saying that “the community, which is known for its production of sweet potatoes, groundnut, pepper and fish can no longer go to their farms due to the menace of herdsmen.”
The Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa in a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, has condemned the attack. The Governor issued a directive saying, “I have 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.”
