Governor Okowa of Delta State, left, Brig. Gen. Jallo, and CP Mohammed Inuwa. |
Miffed by the disturbing silence of the Federal Government, Delta
Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, has urged the Federal Government to
speak up and give the direction on what should be done to properly check the
menace of criminally-minded herdsmen.
The governor made the call today, Monday, February 24, 2020 in
Asaba while presenting 35 pickup vans to security agencies in the state.
The 35 vans prsented by Delta State Government for seurity operations. |
He condemned the brazen attitude of the herdsmen who usually
invaded communities and attempted to take them over or took their cows into
people's farms for grazing, wielding AK 47 rifles.
He said that with strong statements from the Federal Government,
security agencies would know what to do.
According to Okowa, as it concerns herdsmen menace, on the
part of the Federal Government, a lot needs to be done; we need strong
statements on what should be done for the security agencies to further do their
work.
He said "if you are going into any particular place, it is
only just fair that you don't walk into a community and seize the place,
that is not right, and for anybody carrying arms in the name of being a herdsmen,
it is obviously wrong.
"They are not licensed to carry arms, not to talk of AK 47
assault rifles, and anyone seen carrying arms is a criminal.
"Beyond those that carry arms, you don't walk into a farm
and begin to graze on it, that is not the way it should be; so, there are a
whole lot of issues and we need strong voice from the federal authorities which
will assist the security agencies.
"In this state, we will continue to do the best that we
can. A lot of criminals have been apprehended and one thing that we have said
is that we are not giving any land for settlement.
"So, we need to continue to work hard and to liaise with
other state governments in the South-South and at the national level to ensure
that we are able to achieve a more conducive environment for investments to
take place."
He commended the security agencies in the state and urged them
to continue to do more, particularly during this dry season.
The governor stated that there was need to find ways to curtail
the criminalities involved in cattle-rearing, noting, however, that people were
aware that some herdsmen were civil in their approach.
"We are also aware that there are Hausa/Fulanis who have
been in Delta for decades, but the criminal elements who are out to maim our
people must be apprehended.
"This will enable us and those who have been settlers over
several years in this state to continue to be at peace with each other.
"It is on this note that I will formally handover the
vehicles to security agencies realizing that as the years go by the various
vehicles that they have begins to wear out.
"We thought that it was necessary to begin a process of
replacement to improve on their ability to move from one point to the other and
today, for a start we are going to give 35 pick up vans for the various
security outfits and we hope that we can add a few more in the next few weeks.
"I want to use this opportunity to appreciate what they
have been doing because, I do know that we have some security challenges and we
know that the incidence of criminal activities have grossly reduced in the last
few months.
"I want to urge that the partnership between the security
agencies must continue to be strengthened; there is a need for us to continue
to share intelligence and to work together as a team because that will
definitely help us to further achieve peace in this state," he said.
The Brigade Commander 63 Brigade, Nigeria Army, Asaba,
Brig Gen. Ibrahim Jallo; Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Mohammed Hafiz
and the Director of Department of State Security (DSS), Mr Ademola Adebiyi,
received the vehicles on behalf of the security agencies.
In a brief remark, the Commissioner of Police said, "this
is a testimony to show that the governor cares for the security of lives
in Delta as these vehicles will boost security in the state and I want to
assure you that the vehicles will be fully utilised."
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