‘Establish Ban on Open Grazing Bill Now,’ IYC Tells South-South Assemblies

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) worldwide in Western Zone, has tasked lawmakers in South South States to commence processes to establishing a bill banning open grazing in the region without delay.

The call by the IYC follows the 72-hour ultimatum issued to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state, to withdraw his support for open grazing by faceless Fulani jihadists.

The Jihadists had threatened to attack Asaba, the state capital if the governor failed to meet up with the ultimatum.

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In an emergency meeting on Monday, the ijaw Youth Council, Western Zone called on President Muhammadu to “heed to the call of restructuring Nigeria by devolving powers to State Governors to be in charge of security.”

The group while commending “South-South Governors on their position with regards to open grazing, flagrantly condemned the threat by Fulani Jihadist to attack Asaba and other cities in Delta State.

“In view of the foregoing, we herby strongly urge the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure Nigeria to avert the insecurity challenges bedeviling the country,” the statement read in part.

The statement signed by Doubra Okotete, Chairman, Olu-Derimon Omaghomi, Secretary and Lugard Izoukumor, Information Officer of Western Zone further sugessted the following resolves to the Federal Government.

1. That we are in full support of the recommendations made by the South-South Governor’s Forum in Asaba.

3. We call on President Buhari to mandate the security agencies to fish out these miscreants who are currently masquerading under the aegis of Fulani jihadist.

3. The Ijaw Youth Council demands that the South-South Governor’s Forum especially those from the Niger Delta States should as a matter of urgent national importance send a bill to the various State Houses of Assembly seeking to ban open grazing.

4. The Niger Delta people are currently the glue holding the nation, however, we are the only people that are not agitating for a break out from this contraption called Nigeria notwithstanding the fact that we are the economic base of this country, and any attempt to undermine our people will lead to dire consequences.

Finally, we wish to state that we are peaceful people even though we have the capacity to defend ourselves and our territory, we will not take laws into our hands. So, we urge the security agencies to fish out this disgruntled group code named ‘Fulani Jihadist.’

The threat by the Fulani Jihadists had attracted wide range condemnation from groups and stakeholders in Delta state, with the Movement For The Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND issuing threats of reprisal on Fulanis in the state if the threat is followed through.