The Fulani community in Delta State has said they are not part of the 72-hour ultimatum given to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa by “Fulani Jihadists” to revoke his stand on proposed ban on open grazing by governors of southern states.

 

Senior Special Assistant to Governor Okowa on Special Duties, Alhaji Muktar Usman, accompanied by the leadership of the Fulanis, during a news briefing in Asaba announced that they were not party to the threat issued to the government and people of Delta State by the Fulani Jihadist.

They stated that they received the news of the planned attack in the state with shock, and that the development threw the Fulani community into fear of possible attack on them from their host communities.

“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 disappointed in that threat and we are calling on the Governor of Delta State, 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 (Sunday), 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,” they said.

While speaking, the leader of Fulanis in Delta, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, said his people had settled in Delta for many years.

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

 

He therefore urged the Delta State government to take measures to strengthen security across the state.

Recall that a warning circular was allegedly sent by some Fulani Jihadist demanding the Delta State Government to withdraw it’s stand on ban of open grazing in the region.

The circular which gave 72 hours ultimatum for the government to revoke it’s stand also read that the state Governor, Ifeany Okowa should withdraw his position as the leading voice of the governors.

The Fulani Jihadist threatened to clamp down on Asaba the state capital and Agbor town if the government of Delta fails to comply.