Delta Police Chides Miyetti Allah Kautalhore Over Inciting Statement

By Miracle Enuji

The Commissioner in charge of the Delta State Police Command, CP Zanna Ibrahim in strong terms has dismissed as false the statement credited to one Yusuf Musa Ardo, who told a media organization in the northern part of the country that from January 2017 to date, one hundred and fifty (150) herdsmen were killed and three hundred and fifty (350) cows were slaughtered by communities in Delta State.

CP Ibrahim flawed the submissions of Ardo via a press release signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, stating that the narrative is false, misleading and a calculated attempt to incite a section of the public against the Police and communities in the State.

The Police Statement as obtained by AsabaMetro reads thus;

“In a swift response to an allegation by one Yusuf Musa Ardo, publicity secretary to Miyetti Allah Kautahore, on BBC Hausa Service broadcast this morning, Saturday, September 9, 2017, that from January 2017 to date, one hundred and fifty (150) herdsmen were killed and three hundred and fifty (350) cows were slaughtered by communities in Delta State, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Police Command, CP. Zanna M. Ibrahim Psc, has clearly stated that the narrative is false, misleading and a calculated attempt to incite a section of the public against the Police and communities in the State.

The CP, who is greatly saddened by the hitherto pockets of unnecessary skirmishes and reprisal attacks which had resulted in the unfortunate loss of lives of ten herdsmen and seven members of the communities, as well as destruction of farmlands, stealing and slaughtering of cattle and thereby creating tension in the affected communities, between January 2017 to date, frowns at the irresponsible act of misinforming the public by inflating the figure of casualties suffered by the herdsmen while at the same time mischievously remaining silent on that suffered by the communities.

The CP is however pleased that the state is relatively peaceful now owing to a number of measures which include regular stakeholders/town hall meetings and setting up of conflict resolution committee at identified flash points in Delta state by the Command in conjunction with the state government and other key actors.

The CP, while emphasizing that peaceful resolution of conflicts should always be pursued as the best and lawful option, calls on the public to disregard the false and inciting claims of Miyetti Allah Katauhore through its publicity secretary, noting that they should continue to follow the path of peace at all times as the Command continually and consciously makes effort to serve them better.”

It is of note that in recent times, members of several communities in the state has enjoyed relative peace due to the immerse efforts of the State Government and Police Command in tackling the menace of rogue herdsmen who has hitherto committed atrocities in over 10 local government areas in Delta State.