There is growing tension in Edjekota-Ogor, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, as former three-time commissioner in Delta State, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, has sounded the alarm over what he described as persistent and devastating attacks on his farmland by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In a petition to the Divisional Police Officer, Ughelli Division, the retired Delta State University, Abraka lecturer said years of repeated destruction of crops have pushed him—and many other farmers in the area—to the brink of collapse.
Muoboghare, who retired from academia in 2022, disclosed that his over two decades of farming in Edjekota-Ogor have been plagued by incessant invasions by herders, resulting in heavy losses of both cash and food crops.
“These attacks have become a way of life. For over two decades, I have watched my investments in cocoa, coffee, cotton, cassava, maize, beans, and other crops destroyed repeatedly,” he lamented.
He revealed that the latest incident, which occurred between April 10 and April 14, 2026, saw large portions of his farmland overrun, with “acres upon acres” of sweet potatoes, beans, and cotton allegedly devoured by cattle.
“That incident broke my spirit. Enough is enough,” Muoboghare declared.
Describing the situation in Ughelli North as dire, the former commissioner alleged that the area has effectively become a “grazing enclave,” leaving farmers to suffer economic losses without protection.
He faulted security agencies for what he termed a lack of decisive action, questioning the absence of arrests or prosecutions despite years of reported attacks. According to him, even incidents involving the killing of security personnel in nearby communities have not triggered sustained enforcement.
Muoboghare also highlighted governance challenges, noting that both local and state authorities appear constrained in addressing the crisis.
“The local government chairman knows the law but cannot enforce it. The governor signed anti-open grazing legislation but lacks control over the security apparatus to implement it,” he said.
While expressing some sympathy for authorities, he warned that continued inaction could push farmers toward self-defence.
“There is an endurance limit. When people are pushed to the wall, survival becomes the only option,” he stated.
He cautioned that growing frustration across communities in Ughelli, Ogor, Uwheru, Evwreni, Agbarho, Orogun, and Agbarha could escalate into wider unrest if urgent steps are not taken.
Muoboghare further warned that the attacks reflect a broader security threat, stressing that rural communities are increasingly exposed and vulnerable.
He noted that if farmlands located near major routes, including the Port Harcourt Expressway, can be repeatedly attacked without intervention, then no area can be considered safe.
The retired academic concluded his petition with a call for urgent action to avert a breakdown of law and order.
As of the time of filing this report, the Delta State Police Command had yet to respond to the allegations.
