Blood flows as residents, Fulani herdsmen clash

- People of Osisa community in Delta state attacked Fulani herdsmen few hours after holding government officials hostage

- The reprisal attack followed conflict between Fulani herdsmen and members of the community

- Mukhtar Usman, chairman of cattle breeders association said many of his members were in serious condition

Some members of the Osisa community, in Ndokwa-East local government area of Delta state reportedly launched a reprisal attack on Fulani herdsmen.

This is coming few days after some women held the Secretary to Delta Government, Festus Ovie Agas, and other government officials hostage over alleged killing of their people by the herdsmen.

Speaking to Daily Post, the secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN, Mukhtar Usman, denied that members of the association killed any of the residents.

According to him, there was a conflict between some Fulanis and Osisa locals on Saturday, October 22, in which some people were injured.

READ ALSO: Fulani herdsmen attack: Governor’s aide, others held hostage by women (photos)

Recounting what happened, he said at about 1pm on Saturday, the police DPO of Ashaka called him that there was a fracas in Osisa and that three patrol teams had already been mobilized to the scene.

“But by the time the officers got there, the residents blocked them. They got defensive and said the policemen would not be allowed to take any of our injured members to the hospital.

“Eventually, they were able to rescue the Fulanis and took them to a medical centre at Ashaka at about 7:30 in the night, from where I took them to Federal Medical Centre in Asaba,” he explained.

Usman, who is also an aide to the governor on non-indigenes, said he told the Fulanis to vacate the area pending their meeting with Osisa community leaders Wednesday.

However on Monday, the people of Osisa launched what looked like a planned attack on Fulanis across the community.

READ ALSO: Use arrested cattle for “stomach infrastructure” – Governor Fayose

“As I speak, some are in serious conditions, while cattle are missing. I told our members not to react but leave Osisa. I quickly called police deputy commissioner (operations) and the area commander.

“They have sent police teams to Osisa to look for the cattle. That is the situation at the moment. We are appealing for calm as we hope to douse the tension events of the last few days has caused.”

When contacted, the acting police spokesman, Andrew Animaka, dismissed the claims that there was no reprisal attack in Osisa.

He said aside the alleged impunity by Fulani herdsmen and protest by a few women from the community, the place is calm and quiet.

Fulani herdsmen have wrecking havoc in various communities across the country. Following their attacks, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state decided to take drastic action. He inaugurated of the Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals (EGEM), saying herdsmen caught grazing beyond 6pm risk a six-month jail term.

The governor also ordered that all cattle arrested in the state be used for the stomach infrastructure programme.

Also, Malam Muhammad Bello, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, has ordered all herdsmen to move their cattle out of the FCT.

Source: Legit.ng