The Herders/Igbe Ogume soured relationship in recent time over invasion of the Community farmlands for grazing is gradually coming to an end following a peace meeting held on Monday, August 4, 2025.
The meeting which held at Kwale was at the instance of Commissioner for Agriculture/Chairman, State Livestock Delta State Management Committee. Mr Matthew Ujene presided over the meeting.
Prior to the meeting one Mallam Abubakar Mudi Mohammad (herdsman) reported to the committee that one of the herders was shot by unknown gun man in Igbe Ogume farmland. On the other hand, Alaska Ekele, Chairman, Community Development Committee, CDC of Igbe Ogume reported to the same committee that there was a dead cow in their farmland prompting Mr Matthew Ujene to visit the scene with few of the villagers on July 29, 2025.
After visiting the scene, a peace meeting was convened on Monday August 4, 2025. During the meeting Mallam Abubakar Mudi Mohammad who spoke on behalf of the Fulani herders acknowledged the fact that they never had confrontation with Igbe Ogume and used the opportunity to beg the community to carve out a piece of land for them for the purpose of grazing.
Responding, Alaska Ekele, leader of the delegation from Igbe Ogume thanked the conveners of the meeting for their wisdom and for promoting peaceful coexistence. He felt sorry for the gun shot by unknown gun man but thanked God for saving the life of the herder being shot. He also felt bad on the loss of the cow. He told the cattle rustlers that much as they welcome visitors in their community they are ready to do any other kind of business such as buying and selling tomatoes, onions, pepper, fish etc, even inter marry but cannot give them a piece of land for grazing or to keep their cows for obvious reasons. After giving them the reasons, they too felt bad for encroaching on the land extending to Igbe Ogume.
Till the meeting lasted, both parties including the conveners were all happy.
The high point was taking off group picture with Igbe Ogume representatives inviting the herders to their community for more mutual understanding. Saturday, August 9, 2025 was slated for the meeting.
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