By Onome Oghenetega
Hundreds of women in the university community of Abraka in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State on Thursday protested against the alleged killing of one Mr Egba and his two sons by suspected herdsmen in the area.
The women joined by their colleagues from Obiaruku, a neighbouring community to Abraka, lamented what they described as constant attacks from the herdsmen on farmers from both communities.
Abraka, is the host community to the Delta State University, while Obiaruku is a community in Ukwuani Local Government Area.
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The protesters who barricaded all roads leading to both communities called for the intervention of the Federal Government and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in the alleged killings in the area.
They said Mr Egba and his two sons were allegedly murdered by bandits believed to Fulani herdsmen during the week in their farmlands.
The women protesters alleged that farmers had taken over farmlands and forests in both communities sharing boundary with Edo State.
NIGER DELTA TODAY (NDT) Online reports that this is not the first-time residents of the area were protesting alleged attacks and killing of farmers in the area.
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Our correspondent reports that the protesters demanded that the state government to flush out the herdsmen from their farmlands to enable them to return to farms.
“The Fulani herdsmen have been killing our people in our farmlands. This week, our brother (Egba) and his two sons were killed while in their farms. Due to the fear of the attacks, we no longer go to farms. We want to return to farm because of the hardship.
“These women you see here are from Abraka and Obiaruku. Aside killings, these women evade our farms with their cattle and eat our produce. Once you challenge them, they will shoot or rape you. The Abraka forest is a no-go area. They have established settlement there. The forest is like a forest of it own”, one of the protesting women told our correspondent.
The women who sang Urhobo war songs demanded Governor Okowa and security agencies in the state to urgently intervened.
The protest has resulted in traffic gridlock as travellers plying the Agbor/Abraka and other access roads were blocked by the women.
However, the chairman of Ethiope East Council, Hon. Victor Ofobrukuta, who addressed the women, assured to take their concerns to Governor Okowa for immediate resolution.
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Ofobrukuta, however, pleaded with the protesting women to open the roads for traffic.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, could not be reached for comment.
However, a senior police officer in the area confirmed the killing of the deceased and his two sons.
