Aggrieved residents of the Egbo-Kokori community in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, on Tuesday, barricaded the main entrance of the Police Area Command, Ughelli, in protest against what they described as the “incessant attacks, raping and destruction of their farmlands by suspected killer herdsmen.”
The protesters, consisting of aged women, men and youths, carried leaf branches and sang anti-killer herdsmen songs to express their grievances.
“We no want killer herdsmen in our community again,” they chorused.
They lamented that they had been forced to abandon their farmlands due to fear of attacks and rape.
Speaking to journalists on behalf of the protesters, community leader Albert Oghenekparobor accused herdsmen of destroying their farms with cattle and raping women in the bush.
Oghenekparobor said, “As if that was not enough, the herdsmen petitioned and arrested our leaders at Isiokolo Police Division. When some of us got to the police station, we had a roundtable discussion that led to their release.
“After their release, the killer herdsmen came begging that they should be given time to leave the community, and we both signed an undertaking on when they would leave. They left as agreed.
“But just recently, we were invited by the police over a petition that we are killing their cows, hence this protest.
“Our women no longer go to the bush because of the fear of being raped. All we want now is for all these killer herdsmen to leave our land. We don’t need them again.”
Another community leader, Benson Oshevire, echoed similar concerns, stating, “The herdsmen are raping our wives, daughters, and sisters, after which they will uproot our cassava for their cattle.”
“They are causing us pain, as our women can no longer access their farms due to fear of rape and assault. All we want is for them to leave our land.”
Two elderly women, Mama Patricia and Philo Utuedor, also expressed their frustration over the herdsmen’s activities.
“As it is today, we can only go to our farms in groups, as anyone who dares to go alone will be abused and assaulted.
“Last year, we both signed an undertaking, and they left. But we are surprised to receive a petition and an invitation that we are killing their cattle.
“The herdsmen will chase us from our farms, and because of that, we are always in our homes. And when this invitation came, we had to protest to let the world know what we are facing in our community,” Patricia said.
Following the protest, the Area Commander, Ughelli Area Command, ACP Ademola Adebayo, engaged the Egbo-Kokori community leaders in a closed-door peace meeting.
However, as of the time of filing this report, the outcome of the meeting was still awaited, while the entrance gate to the Police Area Command remained locked as the protesters stood their ground outside.
