Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

Traditional rulers from Ijaw speaking communities  have rejected the idea of cattle colonies in any part of Ijawland.

This was part of a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting in Yenagoa and chaired by first military governor of old Rivers State and Chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, Amanayabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred  Diete-Spiff.

The traditional rulers while condemning the killing of farmers by Fulani herdsmen “expressed total rejection of establishing cattle colonies for cattle production on Ijaw territories.”

Restating the commitment of the Ijaw people, who have lived in time immemorial in at least, six states of the federation as indigenous people, to live in peace and harmony with all their neighbours, they condemned the tendency in some states where Ijaws are aboriginal people but denied their cultural and economic rights and excluded from the political mainstream.