Delta monarch seeks end to carnage ahead of 2019 polls

Disturbed by the activities of herdsmen in the university town of Abraka, Delta State, the traditional ruler, Ovie Marshal Lucky Ochuko Ararile, Awaeke 1, has urged concerned authorities to immediately tackle the menace before the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

The monarch, who spoke at the weekend in Abraka, regretted that over 10 persons had been murdered in the community by the marauding herders in recent years.The royal father noted that the clamour for restructuring should be at the back burner for now while the murderous activities of the nomads should be urgently addressed.

According to him, it would be practically impossible to have free and fair polls in parts of the country next year if the killings persist, adding that the Federal Government and the security agencies must be up and doing.

He said: “Nigeria is unsafe at the moment because of the series of killings by the herdsmen. People are living in fear. The issue of cattle rearers should be urgently addressed before the next elections. Restructuring is what people are talking now but the carnage by herdsmen is more urgent and should be tackled now.

“Against the backdrop of several cases of killings, maiming and rapes by the herdsmen, people are now afraid of going to their farms. Government must secure the people and their property before the situation gets out of hand.”

Ovie Ararile expressed concern that the nomads were still on ravage despite the billions of naira budgeted yearly by the various tiers of government on tackling the menace.He backed former Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd) on his call for Nigerians to defend themselves against attacks.

The Air Vice Marshal (AVM) added: “Everybody should be armed for the sake of self-defence. The citizens should be given the constitutional right to bear arms since those attacking them are fully armed and dangerous.”