The National Association of Delta State Students(NADESSTU) has condemned the unabated attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen on local farmers in the state as unbecoming and called on the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led government in the next one week to take proactive steps towards stopping the killings.
Last Saturday, armed Fulani herdsmen killed a 55-year-old senior official of the Delta State University, Abraka, Mr Sunday Idama, in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.
Idama, an official of the Library Department in DELSU, was alleged to have died of machete cuts inflicted on him when herdsmen invaded his cassava farm at Ovre-Abraka.
The incident had since sparked public outrage over the unabated attacks by herdsmen on local farmers in the area as herdsmen and their cattle now habited deserted farmlands.
NADESSTU lamented that many of their colleagues had become orphans, fatherless or motherless due to the gruesome killings and frequent attacks by Fulani herdsmen especially within the Delta State University community of Abraka in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement signed by NADESSTU’s National President, Shaka Emomine and Secretary, Otuoraha Oghenekaro, said they are giving a one week ultimatum to the state government take proactive measures against the activities of Fulani herdsmen or risk them occupying the State Government House, Asaba.
While condemning the recent killing of a senior staff of DELSU, Mr. Sunday Idama by suspected arms wielding herdsmen, Emomine appealed to the state government take up educational responsibility of the deceased’s children and others who had died as a result of herdsmen attacks.
It read, “The incessant killing of our parents has become appalling and we are deeply concerned about this killing and destruction of property by herdsmen in our communities.
“Our forefathers and we the current generation have lived a symbiotic life with Fulani herdsmen who have depended on us as host communities for the provision of basic needs such as grains, shelter and indeed, husks from the harvest which have provided fodder for their animals.
“The sudden turn of events where herdsmen have abandoned this long mutually-beneficial relationship, by taking up arms against our parents and people is giving us a serious cause for concern. Some of our fellow students have been made fatherless, motherless and even some are now orphans because of Fulani herdsmen.”
They posited that at the end of the one week ultimatum, if the state government failed to address the plights of local farmers and host communities from further attacks, the union would have no option but to relocate to the state government house until the government addressed the situation.
