Fulani Community In Delta Dissociates Self From Threat To Gov Okowa By Faceless Jihadist Group

The leadership of the Fulani community in Delta State have dissociated themselves and condemned in a strong term the purported threat letter by a faceless ‘Fulani Jihadist’ group which threatened to attack the state over the ban on open grazing in the state.

BIGPENNGR had reported that a yet-to-be identified group, which styled itself as ‘Fulani Jihadists’, had on Sunday threatened to attack Asaba, the state capital, and Agbor, if Governor Ifeanyi Okowa does not withdraw his support for the ban on open grazing within 72 hours.

The group, also claimed responsibility for the last week fire incident that occurred at the Federal Secretariat complex along Okpanam Road in Asaba, Delta State capital.

But disowning the group, the Fulani community, at a joint press briefing on Monday in Asaba, said the alleged ultimatum and planned attack on the state does not enjoy the blessings of Fulani people living in Delta.

The leadership of the Faluni community who were led to the press conference by Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Alhaji Muktar Usman, expressed shock at the news of the alleged planned attack, noted that the Fulani community had been living in fear of possible attack from their host communities since the news of the threat broke.

“Yesterday was a very sad story for the leadership of Fulani in Delta. We woke up to see the viral report in the media that suspected Fulani Jihadists threatened to attack Delta State.

“We are very very disappointed in that threat and we are calling on the Governor of Delta, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and security agencies in the state to know that we are not part and parcel of that threat.

“We are Nigerians and we have good understanding with our host communities having lived here for over 40 years.

“We are calling on government to fish out those people that are behind the alleged threat because we are not part of it and we can never be part of it.

“We are in very good understanding with our host communities and we must thank the Governor because we are accepted more here in Delta than even in our respective states.

“So, I want to call on all our peace-loving people to remain calm and avoid unnecessary tension because since yesterday our people have been panicking.

“We are telling the world today that we condemn this act in all ramifications, we are not part of it and we don’t intend to fight anybody, we are peace-loving people”, Usman said.

Also speaking, Leader of the Fulani in Delta, Alhaji Musa Mohammed said the Fulani were peace loving people having settled in the state for decades with their children.

“We have lived here for many years and we don’t have problems with the people of the state,” he said.

Those present at the briefing include, Alhaji Musa Muhammed, the Sarki Fulani in the state, Chairman of Miyetti Allah in the state, Alhaji Abubakar Haruna, Alhaji Useni Haruna, Sarki Asaba among others.