Youths from Ogoniland and other groups in Rivers State have taken their protest against the spate of attacks on farming communities in Ogoniland to the authorities in Port Harcourt.
Organised under the auspices of Coalition of Rivers State Youth Bodies (CORYB), the groups marched through the streets of Port Harcourt and called for an end to the growing wave of insecurity perpetrated by Fulani Herdsmen in the communities.
They took their protest to Government House, the DSS and the headquarters of the Rivers State Police Command where their leaders addressed the protesters.
There has been a rise in attacks by Fulani herdsmen in on farmers in some communities in Ogoniland, after the farmers tried to bar cattle from grazing in farms. One Goodluck Dimkpa was killed in Ueken, Tai while several other people were seriously injured in attacks in Ebubu and communities in Nyokhana.
Recently, villagers in Sogho in Khana Local Government Area asked Fulani people who had acquired land to settle around their community to leave because of growing tension between them and the farmers.
The Leader of the protesters and Chairman of CORYB, Comrade Imeabe Savour Oscar said the Ogonis were tired of the killings of their kinsmen by Fulani herdsmen.
He said the people could no longer tolerate the killings and were calling on government and the security agencies to intervene and save the lives and property of Ogoni people.
He warned that if the situation continued, the people could be compelled to defend themselves against the invading herdsmen.
“These acts of aggression are unacceptable. We have endured enough and can no longer afford to stand by as our people are murdered and our communities terrorized.
“We demand the immediate and unconditional departure of all Fulani Herdsmen from Ogoniland. Their continued presence poses a grave threat to the peace and security of our people, “Oscar said.
The groups also demanded justice for the victims of the attacks.
Also speaking at the gathering, Spokesman of Coalition of Rivers State Youth Bodies, Mr. Tamuno Belema, pointed out that the attacks could spiral to other communities if not nipped now
Representative of the Commissioner of Police, DCP Alhassan Kawu said the command was serious about its determination to maintain law and order in Rivers State, and promised that their message would be delivered to the Commissioner of Police.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as, ‘Police intervene for Ogoni People,’ ‘Police enforce the law prohibiting open grazing in Rivers State’ and ‘Stop killing Ogonis.’
