Christopher Odamah -Abraka
The member representing Ethiope East Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Chief Evance Ochuko Ivwurie and his kinsmen has banned grazing in Abraka kingdom, Ethiope East Local Government Area, saying that it is a private business and no longer a grazing zone for the Cattle rearers.
He assured the people that his constitutional and legitimate responsibility is to protect their lives and properties.
Hon. Evance Ivwurie recently called an emergency security meeting which comprises of major stakeholders at his private residence in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.
Hon. Ivwurie said, “I called this emergency security meeting because of the recent incidents of negative social vices in Abraka, Agbon Kingdom and Ethiope East Constituency in general.”
In his words, “I called the meeting for the people of Abraka to deliberate on these security concerns and come out with a couple of resolutions in order to nip these problems in the bud in a proactive manner. We have had series of security challenges mainly the notorious Hausa Fulani Herdsmen. I look at it as a way to terrorize the communities because they have continued the killing of our people in Ethiope East Local Government Area, recently two of our people were murdered in cool blood within the last six weeks.”
Hon. Ivwurie said the issue of cultism is another reason for this meeting which has assumed total and different dimension where almost on a daily basis students and residents are killed with a lot of violence. He said the issue of robbery, snatching of money from contractors and residents from bank premises and trailing of customers from Bank premises are among the reasons for the meeting.
Hon. Ivwurie reiterated that “one thing we have achieved here today is that there are a lot of mothers and women who were in attendance because in Sociology, we were taught that women are the major agent of socialization through which people can be orientated and re-orientated; we have appealed to our mothers and women to pass the message to their children, wards, loved one and relatives. We have educated everybody about the need for zero tolerance in crime and criminality in Abraka, Agbon Kingdom and Ethiope East Local Government Area. If your child, brother is involved in crime, report him to the Police before you become his or her next victim. Another thing we dealt with extensively is the security measures which cannot be disclosed to the public, Hon. Ivwurie said that proactive measures were taken against the Hausa – Fulani Herdsmen Cattle-Rearers that Abraka is no longer a grazing zone.
He used the opportunity to say that this is the first phase of the security meeting, the Abraka section. The second phase is that of Agbon Kingdom and third phase is the entire Ethiope East Local Government Area. We are going to brainstorm with the stakeholders involved on the way forward and come up with a tangible resolution.
Hon. Ivwurie added that the purpose of the meeting was to make sure that the people of Abraka curtail in the most proactive manner by dealing with the negative social vices to reduce crime and criminality in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state.
According to Hon. Ivwurie, “My charge and advice for the people of the Kingdom is that you should not tolerate anyone involved in crime and criminality, be extremely careful in anything you do, the dynamism of the world has change, don’t take anything for granted, adding that, “The youths should not kill any cattle belonging to Hausa Fulani herdsmen because they value and love their Cattles far more than human beings and warned sternly that the Cattle – Rearers (Herdsmen) will always reinforce whenever their cows are killed and in return come back to kill a minimum of 2 persons.”
Hon. Ivwurie emphasized that everyone must be engaged in information gathering and information sharing. The people of Abraka agreed that Ovre Abraka, Ovre Eku and Ovre Igun which is the desert across the river is another danger waiting to explode due to the criminal activities of the herdsmen and other criminals who have invaded the place because of the disinterest of our government to invest in the place and to protect our people.
He also appealed to the State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa to intervene by constructing two bridges across the river Ethiope between Urhuoka and Oria – Abraka.
The Abraka Divisional Police Officer thanked Hon. Chief Evance Ivwurie, vigilante groups and the people for their peaceful disposition, saying the meeting is a confidence building process.
According to the DPO, “crime and criminality has reduce by 61%, no kidnapping, car snatching, no more bank robbery, emphasizing that Cultists are not spirit, and therefore beg the people to provide the police with information to work with.”
Speaking further, the DPO said police had put in place measures to stop and search; respond to distress calls promptly, raiding of criminal hideouts, the formation of a formidable security squad and the internal settlement of Abraka security issues.
Responding, the President Generals and the good people of Abraka community thanked Hon. Ivwurie for his foresight in calling the security meeting and promise to work with him in order to actualizing the purpose of the meeting.
