Following the revelation of imminent attack planned and programmed by the herdsmen on Ika Nation and in a bid to sensitize Ika people about such attack, church leaders under the auspices of Ika Nation Church Leaders Forum (INCLF) have called on the good people of Ika nation to be on the alert at all times. SEE ALSO:MBIRI COMMUNITY RAISES ALARM OVER MENACE OF HERDSMEN
This was made known by the Chairman of the Ika Nation Church Leaders Forum (INCLF), Bishop Dr. A.O. Iweriebor, during their visit to Ika Weekly Newspaper Corporate office on Thursday, July 18, 2019.
The Bishop, who was accompanied by three other clerics – Bishop Clement Ogumu, Bishop Michael Asiwe and Evang. Osundu Kingsley, revealed that the above revelation necessitated their visits to all the 11 clans in Ika land to brief the monarchs on the possible danger that await Ika nation. He said the visit commenced on Monday, July 9 and ended on Thursday, 11 July 2019.
Speaking, he said, “Consequent upon the revelation that came on the imminent attack planned and programmed by the herdsmen on Ika Nation, members of INCLF met several times and came up with a plan of action; and the plan was to visit all the 11 monarchs in Ika Nation. We drew a time table on that and last week, we embarked on and completed that journey.
“On Monday, we visited Umunede, Akumazi, and Mbiri palaces. On Tuesday, we visited Igbodo, Ute-Ogbeje, Otolokpo Palaces. The third day, we moved to Idumesah Ute-Okpu, Okparan-uku of Idumuesah, and Abavo kingdom. The Fourth day, we went to the Obi of Owa’s palace and concluded at the palace of Dein of Agbor Kingdom.
“In each of these clans, we addressed the monarchs and alerted them of the revelation and our mission about the herdsmen’s attack that the people have already taken over our front and backyards. And that any moment from now anything can happen. We also made them to know that there is need to get ready for self defense peradventure they strike from any angle of Ika nation. We also prayed for the Obis, their subjects, Ika land and Gov. Okowa as the number one stakeholder of Delta State, and also prayed against the herdsmen attack. We assigned people to preach and handle different prayer sessions”.
He also called on the illustrious sons and daughters of Ika land to always be on the watch and not sleep with their two eyes closed, adding that the herdsmen already know all the nooks and crannies of Ika land even more than the indigenes. He charged Ika people to be prepared for self defense peradventure the herdsmen strike, stressing that Ika people cannot afford to be slaves in their own land.
Speaking further, the Bishop noted that the monarchs gave them open hands of fellowship, encouragement and were at peace with them. He also asserted that the traditional rulers agreed to intimate their subjects on the mission of the religious leaders, asserting that the mission yielded huge success. SEE ALSO: FULANI HERDSMEN ATTACK WOMAN ON HER FARM
While urging the people of Ika Nation to desist from discrimination that is capable of causing disunity in the land, he called on all and sundry to join hands to see that the menace of the herdsmen in Ika land becomes a thing of the past.