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The Urhobo Renaissance Society (URM) has vehemently condemned the attack and killing of nine persons in communities situated in Uwheru Kingdom of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State while urging President Muhammadu Buhari to put an end to the barbaric killings of Urhobo sons and daughters.
In a press release made available to newsmen, the National Publicity Secretary of UPU, Worldwide, the Urhobo body said savage attacks were carried out by the now notorious killer herdsmen, who have constituted themselves into national irritants, insensate scoundrels and criminal vermin of the lowest order.
READ the statement in full:
BEING TEXT OF A PRESS STATEMENT BY URHOBO RENAISSANCE SOCIETY (URS) ON THE DASTARDLY KILLINGS OF URHOBO SONS AND DAUGHTERS BY HERDSMEN IN UWHERU KINGDOM, UGHELLI NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, DELTA STATE.
The Urhobo Renaissance Society (URS) received with deep indignation, the barbaric and inhuman killing of nine (9) Urhobo sons and daughters with the tenth (10th) battling for life, coupled with the destruction of properties which include farmlands and other means of economic livelihood in three communities of Uwheru Kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the Central Senatorial District of Delta State.
The savage attacks were carried out by the now notorious killer herdsmen, who have constituted themselves into national irritants, insensate scoundrels and criminal vermin of the lowest order.
According to reports, these killer herdsmen, notorious for wanton destruction of everything good and orderly, last Thursday the 13th of February 2020 invaded the communities of Avwon, Agadama and Ohoror, and launched an unprovoked attack.
They were allegedly aided by men in military uniforms and shot sporadically at everything that moves like a human being, causing huge confusion and pandemonium in otherwise peaceful and law-abiding communities. While those able and agile scampered for safety, defenceless women, children and the aged, were targeted and mowed down by the rampaging killers who also destroyed the economic infrastructure of the fleeing victims.
URS observes that from all indications, it seems the remorseless killer herdsmen and their backers in high places have triggered and are systematically executing a war of attrition against their peace-loving hosts considering the fact that all the itinerant herders seem to focus and embark upon are activities that are clearly targeted at dispossessing the aboriginal inhabitants of their God-given land.
URS wishes to state unequivocally, that the Urhobo nation will not under any circumstances yield an inch of their God-given land to people, who are proving by the day to be dangerous guests and are clearly turning out to be an army of occupation in words, thought and deed.
URS invites all well-meaning Nigerians to join it in interrogating these killer herdsmen: Why are they so averse to modernization and global best practices in almost all aspects of life but rather insist on the crude, outdated and cave era ways of animal husbandry? Which modern society encourages herding ruminant animals across acres, kilometers and whole communities, allowing the animals not only to graze but also destroy, despoil and dirty, otherwise clean and attractive vegetation? Why are these killer herdsmen so opposed to ranching? The answers can only point to one thing – hidden and sinister agenda.
URS hereby calls on the President and the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces to ensure that the security of lives and property of the people, irrespective of their ethnic group, and geo-political zone or political affiliation or religious inclination are indeed guaranteed and protected in corporate Nigeria.
Importantly, URS calls for a thorough investigation into the allegation of the collusion of armed soldiers and other security agencies in the invasion and killing of innocent Urhobo sons and daughters in cold blood. While herders are securing their daily bread, they should not seek to destroy the source of livelihood of others.
URS also calls on Delta State Governor, Sen Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and Delta State House of Assembly to take concrete and verifiable steps to end the menace of the killer herdsmen through proper and adequate legislation. Some other states have such laws that regulate the activities of herdsmen. Ekiti, Benue and lately Oyo are examples. We say enough …