The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, has threatened to descend a full blown war, if Delta State is ever attacked by Fulani gunmen, .
The group’s statement is coming shortly after a group known as the Fulani Jihadists issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, to rescind the open grazing ban in the Southern region, or face attack.
In a letter titled: ‘Response to Fulani threat to Okowa on open grazing ban by the Southern Governors’, the group threatened that it will destroy every facility in the region owned by a Fulani person.
The letter partly read: “We are warning that if your threat is made to come to fulfilment, no Fulani will ever exist across the Niger Delta, and all oil facilities linked to a Fulani will be brought down.
“If one soul is lost, 10 Fulani souls will pay for it. If one facility is destroyed, 10 Fulani facilities will be destroyed. We will respond proportionately 10 times whatever you give, the corresponding response will not be limited to the Delta.”
Also speaking, the Spokesperson for the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, Mr. Ken Robinson, described the development as ‘stupidity taken too far’.
He stated: “Let them try it and see. The consequences will be too grave for the country.
“Any attack on any community in Delta State is an attack on the entire Niger Delta, and we will respond appropriately. Nigeria will never be the same again if they try it.
“But I think this is taking their stupidity too far. Their erroneous arrogance is being tolerated for too long.”