The Delta State Governor made the confirmed it on Thursday.

Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta has said that lives have been lost in recent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the State.

Mr. Uduaghan made the confirmation when he received the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, and members of the National Good Governance Team on a courtesy call on him in Asaba on Thursday.

He described the development as another challenge currently confronting the state.

He contended that the end of militancy in the Niger Delta engendered the challenges of kidnapping, illegal bunkering and other criminal activities in the region.

In spite of the problems, he said the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme for former militants had yielded tremendous result.

According to him, most youths have been gainfully engaged just as much peace has returned to the area.

“For the identified vices, however, we are working out strategies to tackle them. The desired peace will begin to reign soon in the state.’’

Earlier, Mr. Maku said the future of youths in Niger Delta lay in peace and security of the zone and urged them to support the federal and state governments in this regard.

He commended Mr. Uduaghan’s security efforts in Delta and charged governors of Niger Delta states to work together to strengthen their security capacities.

Mr. Maku held that Delta had moved on greatly from the time it was created to the present day.

“Delta has been really transformed. I was on a working visit to Asaba shortly after Delta was created. From the Delta I saw then and what I have seen recently and I am seeing now, so much positive things have happened,” he said.

He said the Asaba Airport was grandiose in modernity and that it had diminished the old generation airports.

“I must commend the governor for his transformation effort and I call on all citizens to support him,” he said.

(NAN)