Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has raised a fresh alarm that killings and attacks by herdsmen were escalating in Delta State.

“We are beginning to have a new form of crisis, not that it has not been there. It is the clash between herdsmen and our communities and farmers. It has been a very problematic issue, though not restricted to Delta State. It is very unfortunate that it is escalating, not only in Delta State, but across the country, but we are trying to work out the best ways to deal with it.”

“I have been talking with the security agents and the Commissioner of Police, who has been very proactive and talking with my colleagues, many of them are challenged with the activities of the herdsmen.” Noting the peculiar challenge at Abraka axis of the state, where herdsmen were alleged to be occupying an area described by locals as Sambisa Forest.”

“We are aware that there are challenges at the Abraka area but I will not call it Sambisa forest. The Commissioner of Police has also been in touch with the Assistant Inspector General of Police, South-South.”

“As I speak with you, in the past two weeks, two units of mobile policemen, about 126 policemen with some specially trained anti-terrorist policemen are already resident at Abraka, though at a high cost to us, looking at the best avenues to get these herdsmen to move out of the forest. “It is something that has to be planned in such a manner that we do not have any casualties. But these operatives are providing security there and currently escorting farmers to their farms.”