The governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has tasked Muslim clerics in the region to warn herdsmen against intimidating locals, allegedly killing farmers, and destroying crops.
When the state’s Muslim community leadership visited him on Thursday at Government House in Port Harcourt in celebration of Eid al-Adha, Governor Fubara made this claim.
The Governor acknowledged that it is his responsibility as the state’s top security official to defend their enterprises, but he said he is powerless if some of their “errant members of their fold are destroying the businesses and livelihoods of others.”
According to Fubara, his administration’s goal is to safeguard everyone’s lives and property.
“I expect results in a couple of weeks by calling these people who practice open grazing to order in Ikwerre, Etche, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, and portions of Emohua Local Government Areas,” said Governor Fubara.
“They should stop killing people on their farms and should stop harassing the people.”
In a statement issued by the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Boniface Onyedi, Fubara pledged to maintain open lines of communication with the Muslim community because they play an important role in governance and should benefit from the current state of peace so they can conduct their affairs and practice their religion without fear of harassment.
Alhaji Nasir Awhelebe Uhor, the delegation’s leader and vice president general of the Rivers State Council of Islamic Affairs, gave the assurance that the Muslim community will refrain from using religion to undermine the government.
Alhaji Uhor vowed to support the policies and initiatives of Governor Fubara’s administration.
