Tension as Fulani group threatens to bomb Delta if ban on open grazing is not reversed

A faceless Fulani group known as the Fulanis of Usman Dan Fodio have asked Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa to withdraw from the Asaba accord that banned open grazing in southern Nigeria or they will bomb Asaba and Agbor.

The governors of southern Nigeria had on the 11th of May 2021 banned open grazing in the region.

The move was greeted with uproar with prominent Nigerians including the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and spokeman of President Mohammedu Buhari, Garba Shehu describing the move as a “questionable legality.”

President Buhari during an interview with Arise TV said he would direct the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation to trace gazetted grazing routes and reserve in the country to solve the herders/fermers crisis. But the move was contrary to aspirations of many Nigerians who are of the view that the practice of open grazing be banned and ranches established to solve the ringering problem.

In what seems to be an offshoot of the development, In an unsigned threat letter titled ‘Fulani Jihadist Warnings!!!: An Open Message of 2 Paragraphs to Delta State’ pasted in strategic places across the state capital and Agbor on Sunday, the faceless group warned Governor Ifeanyi Okowa against any failure to adhere to their demand for his withdrawal from the ban on open grazing within 72 hours, it would invade Asaba and Agbor.

The threat letter carrying pictures of members of the terrorist group Boko Haram, dated June 13, 2021, obtained from SaharaReporters, reads in parts:

“This is to inform Delta State that the Fulanis of Usman Dan Fodio leadership shall do everything it can to uphold the legacy of our heritage of open grazing, for we are nomadic people from origination and shall never negotiate the ownership of Nigeria and West Africa and Sub-Sahara.

“We hereby demand the Governor of Delta State to immediately withdraw his early stand for the call to ban open grazing in 17 regions in not less than 72 hours from the above date and also, withdraw his position as the leading voice for the governors, as no occurrence we don’t have the first-hand information, even before the hosting of the South-South, South-East and South-West governors meeting in Asaba.

“Failure to adhere to this demand, Delta State, most likely the city of Asaba and Agbor, shall encounter severe consequences than that of Bornu, Kebbi, Kastina, Kaduna, Enugu, Benue, Oyo and many more that will not respect the Fulani’s heritage, as we take responsibility for the detonate explosive uncovered in the state capital secretariat, which should serve as a warning to the Delta State Government for what is to come, should the governor fail to abide by our demand.

“We highly advise all Fulanis and northerners, including the security personnel, to leave Delta State as soon as possible for the wind of our action is now present in the land, for the failure of the governor to adhere to our call, this shall leave us with no choice. Therefore, Deltans, be told, be informed, be prepared.”

Meanwhile, fear and tension has gripped residents of Delta State over the threats but the state Commissioner of Police, Ari Muhammed Ali, has assured residents that all modalities had been put in place to forestall any such occurrence.

His statement reads, “Delta State Police Command Assures Deltans Of Their Safety And Security,” signed by the state acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Edafe Bright, said, “The attention of the command has been drawn to a recent publication making rounds purportedly published by the Fulani’s of Usman Dan Fodio leadership tagged “FULANI JIHADIST WARNINGS” and pasted in various locations around Asaba and Agbor to be precise.

“The command, under the watch of CP Ari Muhammed Ali, FCIA, psc+ who is ever committed in its responsibility of providing security for all Deltans, is assuring members of the public to ignore the said publication which miscreants must have pasted to create panic in the state. All modalities have been put in place to forestall any of such occurrences; all residents are advised to go about their lawful businesses without fear or panic.

“Undercover police operatives have been deployed across the state to gather intelligence. In addition, other proactive measures have been put in place by the command. However, members of the public are also urged to continue to partner with the police by providing useful information that will help in policing the state.”