The Urhobo Renaissance Movement (URM) has said incessant attacks by Fulani herdsmen across the country pose a threat to national unity and capable of wiping out the Urhobo people from existence if the excesses and the spate of killings are not contained with immediate effect.
The movement, comprising high-flying professionals (Urhobo sons and daughters) at home and abroad, finds it repugnant and disheartening that the Fulani herdsmen who had previously carried out their grazing peacefully have suddenly become agents of widespread destruction.
In a press statement signed by Professor Hope Eghagha, AVM Frank Ajobena, Professor Joseph Abugu, Dr (Mrs) Cassidy, and Mr. Lexzy Ochibejivwie, the movement said the criminal silence cum apathy of security agencies to the crime is “shocking, to say the least”.
“The Urhobo are largely agrarian people. Destroying their farmlands is tantamount to destroying the economic life of the people.
“The impunity with which they destroy farmlands and rape and kill poor innocent villagers in Urhoboland and across the country is alarming. It is a threat to the survival of the Urhobo nation,” the statement read.
The movement called on the FG to take immediate action to stop the Fulani herdsmen from further exterminating lives and destroying farmlands, stressing that “Their acts have become a threat to the corporate existence of Nigeria”.
“The legislator representing Ethiope East (the area where the herdsmen have unleashed a high degree of terror) in the Delta State House Assembly has drawn the attention of the State and security officials to this brigandage.
“At the time of issuing this statement, the acts of terror have not abated. If anything, the brigandage has assumed a higher and frightening dimension.
“We call on the Federal Government to take immediate action to stop these marauders from further exterminating lives and destroying farmlands,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, URM has unequivocally condemned in totality hate speeches emanating from various section of the country.
“No individual or ethnic group has the right to heat up the polity with speeches that promote hatred and bigotry.
“The Nigeria-Biafra Civil war from 1967-1970 clearly showed that violence is not the solution to ethnic differences. Religion is a private matter. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion.
“It is our view that all such hate promoters be dealt with according to the laws of the land,” URM stated.