*Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa
Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Delta State Governor, has challenged the Nigerian Army under the command of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General, Tukur Buratai to end insecurity and unrest in his state, especially those arising between farmers and Fulani herders in Delta State. There are perceptions across Nigeria that President Muhammadu Buhari’s government have handled the Fulani herders and farmers clash because the herders are majorly from his Fulani tribe.
Only recently, the governor alleged that military men accompanied some bandits that killed eight people in his state meaning that the government are tacitly embolden the killers against fellow citizens. The governor gave the charge on Monday while commissioning the 63 Brigade Headquarters Complex in Asaba, the state capital.
Okowa, who recently decried the surging attacks by Fulani herdsmen in parts of Delta State, urged the Army to help the state in achieving its desired peace as quickly as possible. He said, “Thank God today, the 63 Brigade is formally operationalised and I do hope this will help us in achieving our desire peace. As a state, we take security issues very seriously. We will continue to prioritise the needs of security agencies in the state. We do hope things will be better as we commission this brigade today because the issue of farmers/herders, kidnapping are still big challenges to us.”
Buratai, however assured the governor and the people of Delta State that the establishment of the 63 Brigade Headquarters Complex in Asaba meant adequate security in the state. Explaining the reason for the establishment of the 63 Brigade in Asaba, he said the strategic position of the state to the sea borders made it imperative for the army to set up the brigade in the state.
“The establishment of the brigade is as a result of strategic reasons. Delta is open to the sea and the military has a role like the navy to complement the security in the sea borders. The army will continue to partner with other security agencies in the country to ensure that the country is secured” he said.
