Irked by incessant attacks by herdsmen in their communities, youth groups in Rivers State, under the auspices of Coalition of Rivers State Youth Bodies (CORYB) on Tuesday vowed reprisal if nothing was done to stop further attack of their communities by gun wielding herdsmen.
The youths who took to the streets to drive home their grievances bore placards with varying inscriptions like, “Police intervene for Ogoni People” “Police enforce the law prohibiting open grazing in Rivers State” and “Stop killing Ogonis’, among others. They took their protest to the Directorate of State Service, DSS, Government House and police headquarters.
Speaking at each point of call, leader of the protesters and Chairman of CORYB, Comrade Imeabe Oscar said the Ogonis can no longer tolerate the incessant killing of their kinsmen by Fulani herdsmen.
According to him, the protest was to draw the attention of the government and all relevant authorities to intervene and save the lives and property of Ogoni people.
He said that Nyokuru,Ebubu,Sogho and Ue-ken in Ogoni are communities worst hit by the herdsmen attacks.
Oscar warned that if the unprovoked onslaught against his people continues, they would be left with no alternative than to defend themselves through self-help.
“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.
“We call on the relevant authorities to take swift and decisive action to end the attacks on our communities and to prevent future occurrences,”Oscar said.
The Coalition equally demanded justice for the victims of the unfortunate attacks.
The Group warned that if after this protest, their demands are ignored, Ogoni People will be left with no alternative other than to defend themselves.
“Should these demands be ignored,we will be left with no choice, but to defend ourselves. Let it be clearly stated that any further attacks on the lives of Ogoni people will no longer be reported to the police.
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“We will resort to self-help and self defense,”Comrade Oscar asserted.
Lending his voice,spokesman of the coalition, Mr Tamuno Belema,said he was there in solidarity with his Ogoni brothers, pointing out that while the Ogonis are crying today,tomorrow it could be the Okrikans, Ikwerres or Etche people.
He emphasized that injury to one,is injury to all,hence the need to rally round the Ogonis at this time of grief.
Responding on behalf of the Commissioner
of Police at Police Headquarters,DCP Alhassan Kawu said the CP is very serious with fighting against insecurity in Rivers State.
He apologized on his behalf for not being able to meet with the group before now.
Kawu assured the protesters that their message or grievances shall be appropriately communicated to the commissioner for prompt action.