According to Daily post's reports, Fulani herdsmen have threatened to invade Burutu local government area of Delta state.
The herdsmen also threatened to covet lands belonging to residents in the community.
Sources said three unidentified Fulani herdsmen who claimed they were sent by the Delta state chairman of Fulanis in Asaba on Friday, December 30, invaded Ayakoromo community in the area.
The men were also said to have celebrated their annual festival on the same day to claim some part of the land for grazing purposes.
However, elders and some leaders in the community rejected the men’s request for such plans.
The elders told the herdsmen that the community law does not permit strangers from setting foot into their land during such festivals.
But in their response, the herdsmen vexed, said they have the freedom to move their cattle anywhere across Nigeria.
They also said there were prepared to they will come to Ayakoromo town with their cattle whether the community likes it or not, source said.
The herdsmen only left the community on the grounds that they were going to get directives from their leader in Asaba after the people insisted that they observe their tradition which forbids people from entering any of their forest for as long as the festivity lasts.
However, a statement by the acting president and a member of the Ayakoromo Activist Forum Austin Ozobo and Alaowei Cleric said the perceived invasion by the herdsmen on their land has raised concerns among residents.
The forum said women now afraid to go to their family farmlands for fear of attacks or abduction by the herdsmen.
“Tempers have flared as our people are highly infuriated. While we are appealing to our restive youths to be calm on the face of the provocation” the forum said.
“We do not want our community to experience serial invasions by these murderous herdsmen who kidnapped, injured and killed their hosts at will.
“The incident in Isele_Uku where their monarch was abducted and killed by herdsmen is still very fresh in our minds. This is just one out of 100 incidents of Fulani Herdsman’s act of brigandage to our neighbours in Delta State alone. Ayakoromo people are still nursing the wounds of the December 1st 2010 military bombardments and we cannot afford to add another of such horrendous experience to our dear lives.”
But the spokesperson for the Delta state police command Andrew Aniamaka said the police is yet to receive an office complaint on the matter.
Aniamaka however, promised to deal with whoever breaks the law of the land.
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