Northern Elders Frown At Delta Community’s Moves To Eject Herders

Northern Elders Frown At Delta Community’s Moves To Eject Herders

By Ozumi Abdul

The Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) has condemned alleged plans by residents of Okpanam community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State to forcefully eject herders from the area.

The traditional ruler (Ugoani) of Okpanam Kingdom, Michael Ogbolu, had last week raised the alarm during a tripartite meeting at his palace that no fewer than 300 Fulani, mostly herders, have taken over a section of the community, saying the intruders had 15 days to vacate the area.

This is contrary to the state government’s earlier appeal to the community to desist from labelling all northerners residing in the state as herdsmen or as perpetrators of crime.

While reacting to the ultimatum, NEF’s spokesman, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the story of forceful ejection of some northerners at this trying time of the country is a disturbing one that needs prompt attention of all stakeholders in the state for the purpose of one united Nigeria where every Nigerian can be resident without fear of humiliation.

“The story about forceful ejection of some northerners from a community in Delta State is very disturbing.

“Our position in the forum is that every Nigerian must be allowed to stay in any part of Nigeria where he or she is earning a living, and living peacefully. Under no circumstance should any northerner be ejected from any part of the South by people in the community who are taking the laws into their own hands.”