How killer herdsmen spread to Niger Delta, hijacked Edo forests
“We do not know if the invasion is part of their plan to subjugate other towns and claim ownership after some decades, as they have done with so many communities in the Middle Belt.
“We call on our governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to take decisive action against the killer-herdsmen and kidnappers, who have occupied our forests and use them as a base to take people hostage. He (the governor) ordered vigilantes to surrender all the weapons in their custody, which they complied with.
“They (killer herdsmen and kidnappers) make more money than those who sell cows, which explains why they leave the northern part of the country to hole up in our forests.
“As the southwest governors did with the Amotekun, our governor should contact the other south-south governors and let them set up a joint security network, comprising the army, police officers, our vigilantes, and hunters, to enter the forests in the state, destroy the camps, and evict the killer-herdsmen and kidnappers.
“Some people have suggested that the government establish forest guards; it is necessary because, as farmers, we do not go to farm anymore because of the herders. The anti-open grazing laws set up by the state governments in the South-South are ineffective as herdsmen breach them with impunity.
“Policemen even tell you that it is not their duty to go into the bush to look for herdsmen, saying we should tell our vigilantes to go there,” he added.
Normalcy returning to Uromi amid fresh kidnapping
However, normalcy is gradually returning to Uromi after the March 27 burning to death of 16 Hausa people, but the people say kidnappers were still on the rampage.
One resident said the official statement by the Ojuromi of Uromi last Friday also helped to calm nerves.
“We do not know if the invasion is part of their plan to subjugate other towns and claim ownership after some decades, as they have done with so many communities in the Middle Belt.
“We call on our governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to take decisive action against the killer-herdsmen and kidnappers, who have occupied our forests and use them as a base to take people hostage. He (the governor) ordered vigilantes to surrender all the weapons in their custody, which they complied with.
“They (killer herdsmen and kidnappers) make more money than those who sell cows, which explains why they leave the northern part of the country to hole up in our forests.
“As the southwest governors did with the Amotekun, our governor should contact the other south-south governors and let them set up a joint security network, comprising the army, police officers, our vigilantes, and hunters, to enter the forests in the state, destroy the camps, and evict the killer-herdsmen and kidnappers.
“Some people have suggested that the government establish forest guards; it is necessary because, as farmers, we do not go to farm anymore because of the herders. The anti-open grazing laws set up by the state governments in the South-South are ineffective as herdsmen breach them with impunity.
“Policemen even tell you that it is not their duty to go into the bush to look for herdsmen, saying we should tell our vigilantes to go there,” he added.
Normalcy returning to Uromi amid fresh kidnapping
However, normalcy is gradually returning to Uromi after the March 27 burning to death of 16 Hausa people, but the people say kidnappers were still on the rampage.
One resident said the official statement by the Ojuromi of Uromi last Friday also helped to calm nerves.
How killer herdsmen spread to Niger Delta, hijacked Edo forests
“We do not know if the invasion is part of their plan to subjugate other towns and claim ownership after some decades, as they have done with so many communities in the Middle Belt.
“We call on our governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to take decisive action against the killer-herdsmen and kidnappers, who have occupied our forests and use them as a base to take people hostage. He (the governor) ordered vigilantes to surrender all the weapons in their custody, which they complied with.
“They (killer herdsmen and kidnappers) make more money than those who sell cows, which explains why they leave the northern part of the country to hole up in our forests.
“As the southwest governors did with the Amotekun, our governor should contact the other south-south governors and let them set up a joint security network, comprising the army, police officers, our vigilantes, and hunters, to enter the forests in the state, destroy the camps, and evict the killer-herdsmen and kidnappers.
“Some people have suggested that the government establish forest guards; it is necessary because, as farmers, we do not go to farm anymore because of the herders. The anti-open grazing laws set up by the state governments in the South-South are ineffective as herdsmen breach them with impunity.
“Policemen even tell you that it is not their duty to go into the bush to look for herdsmen, saying we should tell our vigilantes to go there,” he added.
Normalcy returning to Uromi amid fresh kidnapping
However, normalcy is gradually returning to Uromi after the March 27 burning to death of 16 Hausa people, but the people say kidnappers were still on the rampage.
One resident said the official statement by the Ojuromi of Uromi last Friday also helped to calm nerves.
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