Delta police intercept herdsmen in three speed boats in Asaba

SOME herdsmen who stormed Asaba, the Delta State capital through River Niger in three speedboats at the beginning of this week were intercepted and sent out of the state.

News of the presence of the herdsmen created tension and panic in the state during the week but the state police command said there was no cause for alarm.

Police spokesman in the state, Andrew Aniamaka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, in a statement, while confirming the presence of the herdsmen with their speedboats said they were not armed.

The police statement reads:

“The attention of Delta State police command has been drawn to a video circulating on the social media to the effect that some Fulani herdsmen have arrived Asaba by three flying boats through the River Niger and that they were seen with suspected firearms.

“The command wishes to state that on Sunday, 21st January, 2018 at about 3pm, some herdsmen arrived Asaba bank of the River Niger in three flying boats with their cattle. On receipt of the information, members of the Committee on Herdsmen/Farmers recently inaugurated by the Police Command, led by its chairman Chief Cassidy N. Iloba, and Senior Special Assistant on Security to the State Governor, interrogated the herdsmen, and thereafter they returned to Kogi State where they came from.

“It is necessary to clear that none of theherdsmen was found with firearms. One Alhaji Katti, who has been a resident herder in the area for the past three decades, is the only one remaining there. He has however been warned and bounded over not to harbor any migrantherdsmen forthwith.

“Meanwhile, the command, in conjunction with Herdsmen/Farmers Committee is working assiduously towards ensuring peaceful coexistence between herders and farmers in the state. While advising the public to be vigilant,  the command calls on any person with credible information about any threat to security of any kind to furnish the police or other security agencies with such information instead of using the social media to cause unnecessary panic amongst the people.”