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Lawyers in Umunede, a town in Ika North East Local Government of Delta have written an open letter to the Governor and Chief Security Officer of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori bringing to his attention insecurity episodes perpetrated allegedly by a band of rampaging armedFulani herdsmen who have put the town and environs under the siege insecurity.

In the open letter, they complained that the frequent attrocities of the murderous Fulani groups has reached a point where the people of Umunede and environs can no longer tolerate such.

While saying that their call on Governor Oborevwori to act fast is “call for redemption and restoration in that regard”, the lawyers said:

“To whom much is given, much is equally expected.

“Insecurity is becoming more herculean for modern day leadership in Nigeria, especially in this volatile era where uncertainties stare intimidatingly on the faces of the people.

“The inflated influx of nomads and their kinsmen into the southern, eastern and western parts of Nigeria, which have been raising serious concerns for decades now and was initially considered a ticking time-bomb, is now set to explode.

“Currently in Delta state and especially in Delta North Senatorial District, residents are being abducted at intervals, just like the way hovering hungry hawks supersonically and systematically snatch away helpless day old chickens that are even under the spreading covers of their mothers.”

Full text of the lawyers’ open letter to the Governor reads:

ANARCHY ON THE LOOSE, AS THE ATROCITIES OF INVADING AND RAMPAGING FULANI HERDSMEN AGAINST UMUNEDE AND ITS ENVIRON CAN NO LONGER BE TOLERATED BY THE PEOPLE

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE, HIS EXCELLENCY, RT. HON. SHERIFF FRANCIS OBOREVWORI.

Your Excellency,

ANARCHY ON THE LOOSE, AS THE ATROCITIES OF INVADING AND RAMPAGING FULANI HERDSMEN AGAINST UMUNEDE AND ITS ENVIRON CAN NO LONGER BE TOLERATED BY THE PEOPLE

We want to begin by formally congratulating you on your recent emergence as “ThisDay Newspaper and Arise Television Governor of The Year, 2024”.

It is a remarkable recognition that is laudable and as proud Deltans, we rejoice with you, while thanking God almighty as well, for making it possible.

Such achievement is also posing as a reminder of the reality before you as the Chief Executive Officer of Delta State, which remains the fact that at any time and season, commendation is a form of recommendation for more responsibilities, which otherwise confirms the interpretation behind the use of the famous cliche that says;

“To whom much is given, much is equally expected”.

Insecurity is becoming more herculean for modern day leadership in Nigeria, especially in this volatile era where uncertainties stare intimidatingly on the faces of the people.

The inflated influx of nomads and their kinsmen into the southern, eastern and western parts of Nigeria, which have been raising serious concerns for decades now and was initially considered a ticking time-bomb, is now set to explode.

Currently in Delta state and especially in Delta North Senatorial District, residents are being abducted at intervals, just like the way hovering hungry hawks supersonically and systematically snatch away helpless day old chickens that are even under the spreading covers of their mothers.

Umunede, is a commercial and metropolitan community in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State, with hard-working people that are very well grounded in farming and trading.

As it stands today, the residents of the community are being terrorized by suspected Fulanis that are unleashing all manner of attacks, ranging from kidnapping, robbery, arson, rape and ritualism on the people, within and outside their homes, as well as in the markets and farmlands.

The kidnapping episode manifests at intervals and sometimes, multiple incidents of abductions are recorded daily, with the apprehension of fatal fears that extend to neighbouring communities that bound Umunede in the east, west, north and south.

For some time now, there have been disturbing reports of alleged onslaughts and terror on the residents of the hitherto serene community by some marauders suspected to be Fulani herders.

The residents of Umunede and by extension, the neighbouring communities are presently and pathetically subjected to sleeplessness amid helplessness.

They find it difficult to go about with their daily activities and are very scared to the teeth, even in their respective homes.

Several lives have been lost, most women have been raped and over a billion Naira have been lost to ransom payments for the past nine years, yet the nightmares seem endless.

Recently in January, 2025, about three persons including a bereaved diasporan, who was only in the country to bury his late father and another indigene, who is a local palm wine tapper were allegedly kidnapped within two days interval and later released, after certain undisclosed amount of money were paid as ransom. In their separate testimonies, the victims confirmed their abductors as Fulanis, who were very proud and boastful of their activities.

Only few days ago, a neighbouring community called ‘Mbiri’ within the same local government area as Umunede, was thrown into mourning again as two persons were allegedly murdered in cold blood by these suspected nomads.

This recent gory episode allegedly generated several crisis and unrests that extended to Umunede and other neighbouring communities, but unfortunately there have not been any official statement and confirmation of the incident, which have allegedly led to loss of more lives and properties, either by the police in Umunede division or the state command.

It is extremely disappointing to watch anarchy sprout and spread confidently in a society that is purportedly guided by laws that are famous for their recognition of human rights as enshrined in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.

In view of this, we request that you order the State Commissioner of Police to immediately deploy combatant officers for the restoration of peace and order in Umunede and its neighbouring communities, as well as fishing out the perpetrators of these serial heinous acts and bring them to book.

The indifference as so far displayed by the Nigerian Police and other people in authority with regards to this ugly development is worrisome and condemnable.

This is a call for redemption and restoration in that regard.

Meanwhile, we expect a very prompt action from you, as we are confident that you will duly nip in the bud.

Yours Sincerely,

STANLEY MBULU Esq.

GABRIEL EGBULE (JNR) Esq.

UCHE CHUKWUNWEIKE Esq.

For:

UMUNEDE LAWYERS FORUM (ULF)

Cc:

SENATOR NED NWOKO

SENATOR REPRESENTING DELTA NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT,

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX, ABUJA, FCT.

HON. VICTOR NWOKOLO

MEMBER REPRESENTING IKA FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY,

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX, ABUJA, FCT.

HON. MARYLIN OKOWA-DARAMOLA

MEMBER REPRESENTING IKA NORTH-EAST CONSTITUENCY,

DELTA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY,

ASABA, DELTA STATE.

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,

DELTA STATE POLICE COMMAND,

ASABA, DELTA STATE.

AREA COMMANDER,

AGBOR POLICE AREA COMMAND,

AGBOR, DELTA STATE

THE DIVISIONAL POLICE OFFICER,

UMUNEDE POLICE DIVISION,
UMUNEDE, DELTA STATE.

3rd February, 2025.