By Austin Ogwuda
….Delta govt moves to profile herdsmen and cattle owners
Although, the Delta State House of Assembly passed the State’s Anti-Open Grazing Bill and signed into law in 2021, the implementation of the law had not been effective, to say the least.
Since the law came into existence it appeared that nothing significant actually changed.
And worried about the flagrant violation of the law, the Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Legislative Compliance, sometime in May last year gave Local government Councils in the State a 17-day ultimatum to constitute Committees charged with the responsibility of to enforcing the law.
The ultimatum was handed down when the Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Legislative Compliance met with Heads of Personnel Management (HPMs) of the entire 25 local government councils in the State at the State Assembly complex.
Addressing the HPMs, who were then saddled with the responsibility of running the Councils following the expiration of the tenure of the Chairmen, the Legislative Compliance Committee Chairman, Mr Arthur Akpowowo maintained that the Committee should consist of critical stakeholders, including security agencies.
But did that yield fruit? No! Rather reported cases of herdsmen attacks and killings continued unabated.
… ravaged communities indulge in laying curses on the criminal herdsmen/kidnappers through traditional means
As a result, some communities have resorted to laying of curses against the perpetrators through the traditional means
Former Secretary, Delta State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Publisher, Anioma Trust Newspapers, Comrade Patrick Ochei, who covered the laying of curses ceremony at Isseke-Uku two days ago reports:
*Issele-Uku community, the headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, has taken a decisive action against kidnappers and other evil doers ravaging the community by going traditional against their heinous activities. In an action packed exercise, each of the villages making up Issele-Uku Kingdom gathered at the Royal Palace to carry out the ‘Ine Ubi’ ceremony, which entails laying of curses on evil doers and their accomplices masterminding evil on the land.
The procession of the nine villages; Ukpai, Idumuinei, Ogbe-Ofu, Ogbeowele, Ogboli, Idumuahaba, Ute, Ogbe-Utu and Umueze-Issei to the palace with their palm sticks, Bibles and chaplets in their hands, laying curses on kidnappers, armed robbers, poisonous charm planters and general evil doers orchestrating wickedness against the peaceful and hospitable Issele-Oligbo Kingdom was an interesting business of the day.
At the inner chamber of the palace after a brief meeting with the chiefs, Omu, Eze-Dibie and titled elders of the community, the highly revered monarch of Issele-Uku Kingdom, HRM Agbogidi Obi Nduka later emerged at the front view of the palace (Ishu Uge) where he addressed the mammoth crowd of Issele-Uku people and concerned residents on the essence of the Ine Ubi ceremony.
In an apparent anger on the faces of the participants, the Chi-Obi of Issele-Uku Kingdom, Chief Egbo Adigwe read out the various criminal offences by the perpetrators of evil on the land and the people hit the ground raining curses against each of the crimes and their perpetrators. The exercise was carried out on three different spots in the palace before the king turned back inside, while the Ogbelani of Issele-Uku, Diokpa Isimchei Okonkwo led others to continue the exercise towards the Afor market place.
*The monarch of Issele-Uku Kingdom, HRM Agbogidi Obi Nduka leading the proclamation of the curses
According to the Royal Majesty while being accosted with some salient questions by newsmen, he expressed so much disenchantment with the recent happenings that had almost turned the ever bubbling, hospitable and peaceful community of Issele-Uku into a fearful one.
He said, “This Ine Ubi ceremony has become necessary and almost the last resort in helping the community to ward off evil on the land. This is a form of spiritual cleansing on the land, which was a method adopted by our forefathers to curtail evil in the community whenever it becomes unbearable.
“You all know Issele-Uku to be a visitors’ delight, loving and accommodating. We have never been used to this kind of criminal rampage where residents are now being abducted by kidnappers almost on regular basis.
“We don’t usually apply this method of traditional cleansing on our land where curses had to be laid on evil doers; but like I said, it has gotten to the level where we have to be deliberate in the actions we take to sanitize our community. We are collaborating with Government and security agencies in seeking solutions to this menace, but at this point, we all have individual roles to also play while collective efforts are being made to nip the unsavoury situation in the bud.
“Government has not failed us because the wave of insecurity is everywhere; however, my advice is that they should step up their game, in the sense that the security and welfare of the people remains the primary purpose of Government as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
As part of our own role as custodians of traditions and culture, we have placed curses on those masterminding evil and aiding evil criminal elements on our land. We can’t fold our arms to watch evil doers and their conspirators continue to have a field day.
Whatever anybody whose hands are not clean sees in this matter, he or she should take it to be his or her own evil consequences”, Obi Nduka declared.
Apart from Isseke-Uku, several other communities in Delta North Senatorial District like neighbouring Ubulu-Uku as well as other affected communities in other districts where herdsmen are involved in criminal activities – sacking of farmlands, killing, maiming of the farmers, kidnapping and raping have equally laid curses too.
.... Govt moves to profile herdsmen and cattle owners operating in the State
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Livestock and Inter-Ethnic Relations, Chief Jeffrey Azagba, disclosed this during a meeting with members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Delta State Chapter.
He said that the Delta State Government has initiated plans to profile herdsmen and cattle owners operating within the State as part of efforts to curb rising incidents of violence against farmers and foster peaceful co-existence between both groups.
According to him, “It is worrisome that armed herdsmen are causing havoc in some communities. Profiling them will help identify the bad eggs and ensure peace in our communities”.
While urging the leadership of the Cattle Breeders to submit a comprehensive list of their members, he pointed out that “Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is committed to rooting out any elements undermining his peace and development agenda.
Delta State is an agrarian state. We must scale up agricultural production without the fear of insecurity.
“Anyone aiding or abetting criminal activities should either relocate or be prepared to face the full weight of the law”, he warned.
*Special Adviser to the Governor on Livestock and Inter-Ethnic Relations, Chief Jeffrey Azagba
