Fulani Leaders in Delta State have dissociated themselves from threat to attack Asaba, the state capital.
Gatekeepers News reports that the leadership of the Fulani community in Delta State, on Monday, disclaimed the threat letter purportedly issued by some criminal elements to attack Asaba and Agbor areas of the state.
Some criminals, on Sunday, gave the state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa 72 hours ultimatum to withdraw his support for the ban on open grazing of cattle in the Southern part of Nigeria or risk attack at the aforementioned locations.
The Fulani leaders while disowning this, said they have been living in fear since the letter went into circulation on Sunday, stressing that they have been living in peace with their host.
Those who spoke on behalf of the Fulani leaders include; Muktar Usman, Musa Mohammed, Haruna Abubakar, Useni Haruna among others.
The Sariki Delta, Musa Mohammed, who stated that they have been in Delta for over 40 years, maintained they knew nothing about the publication.
Mohammed said, “This is our home and we cannot create problems for the state because this is where we earn a living. Government should bring those people who did that publication.
“We are very peace-loving and Delta has been good to us”.
Senior Special Assistant to Governor Okowa on Special Duties, Muktar Usman, who is also among the Fulani leaders, expressed disappointment at the anonymous publication.
Usman while stating that they have been living in fear of being attacked by host communities since Sunday said; “we are not part and parcel of that nonsense, and we condemn this act in all ramifications. We are Nigerians and we have a good understanding with our host communities. We are at peace with our host communities.
“We are calling on the state government and security agencies to fish out those behind it. We are more accepted in Delta than in our own states of origin. I want to encourage our people to remain peace loving and not create unnecessary tension.
“Since yesterday (Sunday) all Fulanis were panicking, they were expecting that the host community can attack them at any time, of which they do not know what is going”.
Similarly, other leaders which include Haruna Abubakar, Useni Haruna, have reiterated that they have no reason to attack their host.
In the same vein, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association Of Nigeria (MACBAN) has disassociated itself from the 72-hour ultimatum threat letter.
Its Secretary-General, Usman Baba-Ngelzerma, stated that such a statement by faceless individuals is only meant to create mischief.
Baba-Ngelzerma noted that MACBAN is a responsible association with eminent personalities like the Sultan of Sokoto as its patron and will never do anything to jeopardise the peace of Nigeria.
The MACBAN leader while reacting to the press conference earlier held by the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, declared that the position of the association on open grazing remains.
He, therefore, persuaded the Northern Governors to ensure the recovery of all grazing routes in the country, stressing that Fulani herders have equal rights with all Nigerians and cannot be treated as second-class citizens.