Ijaw youth protesting over invasion of their land by Fulani herdsmen
- A coalition of Ijaw groups
across the Niger Delta region on the platform of Ijaw Peoples
Development Initiative, IPDI has given the Bayelsa state governor, Mr
Seriake Dickson, a seven-day ultimatum to revoke 1,200 hectares of land
allocated to herdsmen or face shutdown of government
- Angry Ijaw mothers also threaten to occupy Bayelsa from Feb 14 if Dickson fails to revoke land allocated to herdsmen
-
Bayelsa government donated had recently allocated 1,200 hectares of
land to cattle herdsmen to control indiscriminate grazing in the state
A
coalition of Ijaw groups across the Niger Delta region on the platform
of Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, on Wednesday 8th February,
gave the Bayelsa state governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, a seven-day
ultimatum to revoke the allocation of 1,200 hectares of land the state
government allocated to Fulani herdsmen for grazing or face a mass
shutdown of all government facilities across the state.
Vanguard reports that mothers of Ijaw nation, led by Niger Delta
activist, Ms AnnKio Briggs, have slated a mass protest in Yenagoa, the
state capital, on February 14, to occupy the state until Governor
Dickson rescinds his decision.
Other Ijaw mothers, who resolved at a
meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers Ssate, to occupy Bayelsa from February
14 are the leader of Ijaw Women Council, IWC, Rosemary Naingba, aka
Aweke-Ere I, national legal adviser, Borno Fetepigi Obhe, national
secretary, Mrs. Ebisidor Bribebe, chairman, IWC, Eastern zone, Mrs.
Brassba Jack
In a statement by its acting spokesperson, Mr Mayor Ogobiri, IPDI said: “We
are giving Governor Dickson seven days ultimatum to revoke Bayelsa land
allocated to herdsmen or face mass shut down of all government
facilities across the state because we do not want a repeat of the
massacre that happened recently at Southern Kaduna in our state.
“We are warning Governor Dickson that the blood of any Bayelsan is
worth much more than thousands of cows. He should fight for human rights
and not animal rights. “It is unfortunate that Dickson is now carried
away by his pursuit for Northern relationship and more political power
at the national level come 2019 and he is blind to the activities of the
marauding herdsmen, which pose grave danger to peaceful co-existence in
Nigeria.
“The act of the
Bayelsa state government is treacherous and a clear betrayal of
Bayelsans who voted him to power. This is a critical period in our
nation. We do not want our women ra*ped and killed, we do not want our
children defiled, we do not want our kings to be kidnapped and killed
and we do not want AK-47 wielding herdsmen within Bayelsa State.
“We want to unequivocally state that Dickson is inviting terrorists to
Bayelsa state by allocating grazing lands to killer- squads under the
guise of herdsmen. If we may ask, how many free fishing rivers and
farmlands have Northern governors allocated to southerners to carry out
fishing and farming businesses in the North?
“Dickson is doing eye service
to the Northerners for political alignment. He is exposing the Ijaw of
Bayelsa state to unnecessary danger, we now live in fear. We will wage
war against Dickson within the confines of the law on his genocidal
mission against the future of Ijaw people.”
The
Cable had reported that Bayelsa government donated 1,200 hectares of
land to cattle herdsmen to control indiscriminate grazing in the state.
In
December 2016, the government restricted the activities of herdsmen in
the state to the Bayelsa Palm area in Yenagoa, the state capital.
According to the government, the decision was to prevent the invasion of farmlands and check any security breaches.
During
an interactive session with stakeholders recently, Shitu Mohammed,
state chairman, Cattle ranches management and control committee, said
the 1,200 hectares of land was for ranch development, grazing and
slaughtering of cattle.
He said more ranches would be donated to the cattle rearers in order to maintain peace and order in the state.
Mohammed commended the Bayelsa government for releasing the land, saying
the gesture would help to sustain the lasting peace that had existed
between herdsmen and farmers in the state.
He
also noted that the committee was set up by the state government to
foster cordial relationship between the cattle rearers, farmers and the
people of the state.
“This is
simply because the committee in collaboration with the state government
and the security agencies had put in place quick response mechanisms,” he said.
He
called on the people of the state to appreciate the provision of the
ranch as it will create job opportunities and boost tourism in the
state.
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