Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have reportedly stormed forests in Delta State to begin the enforcement of the state government’s anti-open grazing law.
In a viral video that circulated on social media, on Tuesday, some masked gunmen believed to be fighters of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) were shooting at cows reportedly wandering on farmlands.
This development came days after a faceless ‘Fulani Jihadist’ group had issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of the state to rescind the ban on open grazing or face an attack.
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But in an unsigned letter circulated in the state, the Fulani Jihadist instructed Governor Okowa to withdraw support for the ban.
The letter read, “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, ask the governor of Delta State to immediately withdraw his earlier stand on ban of open grazing in 17 regions in not less than 72 hours from the above date and also withdraw his position as the leading voice of the governors, even before the hosting of the South-South, South-East and South-South governors meeting, in Asaba.
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“Failure to adhere to this demand for being the host of the 17 governors, 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.
“We take responsibility for the detonated explosive uncovered in the state secretariat, which should serve as warning to the Delta State government for what is to come, should the governor fail to abide by our demand.
“We 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 failure of the governor to adhere to our call, this shall leave us with no choice.”
