Women protest in Delta over herdsmen siege on their farm land

By Ovasa Ogaga,

There is palpable tension in Idjerhe Community in Ethiope West Local Government, Delta State, as suspected Fulani herdsmen has allegedly taken over the community farms, forcing the people not to go to farm for fear of possible attacks.

Pretesting Idjerhe community women numbering over 3000 who thronged Jesse police station, in Jesse town over the weekend called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Delta State Government to prevail on herdsmen to leave their farm land.

The women who came from all over the 36 villages across Idjerhe kingdom to Jesse town, decried the recent influx of herdsmen who came in their large numbers after they were chased away from Orhiowon local government area of Edo state for offences ranging from killings, raping of women and destruction of crops on farm lands which they herdsmen have also resumed in their villages in full swing.

The leader of the protesting women Mrs Omatie Obire said since the influx of marauders herdsmen in the area, the where about of about 6 youths in the community is unknown while several of their people have been maimed, farm land completely destroyed, many women raped, a situation that has now forced them to stay at home from fear of the frequent attack.

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Mrs Obire added that they decided to embarked on peaceful protest because of the latest attack on two of their youths who narrowly escape death at Irhodo village near a pipeline when they were accosted by herdsmen who opened fire on them but were lucky as they fled into the bush, leaving their bike behind which they also alleged the herdsmen set ablaze.

The women explained further that their anger was heightened when one Bello Adamu, the leader of the Fulani Herdsmen in the area came into   Jesse with Military men demanding for Idjerhe Youth Council President Comrade Osiebe Francis and others, pointing out that the Fulani leader had claimed that one of their herdsmen is missing and the youth leader should come and explain to them the whereabout of their missing person.

Speaking also to our reporter, the leader of Idjerhe Youth Council, Comrade Osiebe Francis and its scribe, Comrade Blessing Ogbeburu maintained that Idjerhe Community youths are very peaceful people who will rather engage in dialogue then violence no matter the level of provocation.

They said the leader of the Fulani herdsmen actually came looking for him to arrest with the military men, without authority from the Jesse police Division, a situation the Youth president said the DPO of the station frowned at, alleging that the DPO in turn asked Mr Adamu that, “if actually one of your men is missing as you claimed, then why the military when the police is on ground to handle such matters effectively”?

The youth leaders also urged the protesting women and the youths to be calm assuring them that their request will be communicated to the government and the political leaders of the community whose duty it is to restore peace to the entire land, advising them further never to engage themselves in any act of lawlessness.