By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
Tension is currently brewing in Uwheru community in Ughelli North Local Government, Delta State, as suspected Fulani herdsmen have allegedly shot dead two persons in their farms.
Though details is still sketchy, but immediate past commissioner for Higher Education in Delta State, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare confirmed the incident in a telephone call.
According to him, the Uwheru community is surrounded by lakes where indigenes do their fish farming, but said, it is usually done yearly and that before any one can go there for fish harvesting, certain rituals must be performed, but stated that for years now, before the community will get to there, all the fishes are gone, harvested by unknown persons.
“As am talking to you now, two persons have been shot dead today in the farm for questioning the Fulani herdsmen who authorized them to enter the lake for fishing.
“This incident may no doubt leads to breakdown of law and order as these Fulani herdsmen have so pushed the locals to the wall and they cannot enter their own farms anymore.
” Our people now have resulted to farming only by the road side, off course which will never be enough to carter for their needs and well being and it has never be our culture or our way of life.”
Prof. Muoboghare however called on all relevant authorities to wade in quickly to avoid a total breakdown of law and order.
Another source from the community who claim anonymity, however told our reporter that the Fulani herders were chased from a boundary community of Ewhen in Isoko South to the side of the Uwheru people, but unfortunately they met the deceased in the bush and shot them dead. But he said, ‘Though I cannot confirm but they said is one person that is dead, but I can’t really say yet’.
“What the criminally minded Fulani herdsmen usually do is that, they call people from their homes and demand for a certain amount of money from them before they can be allowed to enter into their farms. How they get their phone numbers and contacts we don’t know.
He said many have lost their lives as a result of such financial demands by the criminal strangers in their own land.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, DSP Bright Edafe could not confirm the report as calls put across to his mobile lines were not answered as at the time of filing the news.
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