Delta Community Flee Their Homes As Fulani Herdsmen Launch Attack

The people of Obiaruku, the administrative headquarters of Okowani local government council area in Delta State was Monday afternoon and the early hours of Tuesday thrown into confusion when heavily armed gunmen suspected to be Fulani Herdsmen invaded Okuzu in Obiaruku.

Trouble started when the Fulani Herdsmen attacked the people and started shooting sporadically between the hours of 2: 00pm and 3: 00pm leaving the people to stampede for
safety.

Our source from Obiaruku who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “It is true that Fulani Herdsmen invaded Okuzu. When I went to see a friend of mine yesterday in Akuzu, I saw people running for safety”.

“The people could not have lied because there was pandemonium everywhere. They first told us that the Fulani Herdsmen were in the bush but later yesterday and today morning, they struck again”.

The source said the Fulani Herdsmen laid siege in the bush before entering the community where they started shooting sporadically.

Confirming the attack, the Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA) Rt. Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebe told newsmen that he received a call from someone who told him that Fulani Herdsmen has invaded the community.

According to him, “I have called the chairman of the council but she has not picked my calls, maybe she is in a crucial meeting”.

The Deputy Speaker however appealed to the people not to attack the Herdsmen as it would be more dangerous for the people, adding that the state government was doing everything to curb their activities.

“It is better to ask them to leave your land quietly than to fight back. The federal government is giving deaf ears to the killing of our people. Please remain calm”, he said.
At press time, it could not be ascertained if there was any casualty as calls put across to the phone of the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Celestina Kalu by our correspondent were not answered.

It would be recalled that cattle rearers popularly known as Fulani Herdsmen whose activities has gone berserk in the state, heavily armed with guns abducted a non-academic staff of the Delta State University (DELSU) Abraka, Mr. John Ogeleke, on his way to Ogume from Kwale.