By Festus Ahon

ASABA—PEEVED by the recent killing of the Obi of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom in Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State, HRM Edward Akaeze Ofulue I, by suspected Fulani herdsmen, youths in Delta North senatorial district of the state, under the aegis of Anioma Security Watch Network, yesterday, protested against the security challenges posed by the herdsmen.

Herdsmen

The youths who marched through Summit Road, Asaba, to the state House of Assembly complex, decried the incessant kidnapping and killings allegedly carried out in the area by the herdsmen.

The youths, dressed in black with red scarves tied round their heads, called for the relocation of herdsmen from the state.

Speaking to newsmen, President of the group, Mr Henry Onwuamalieze, said that the protest was informed by the “insensitivity of government and security agencies to the security threats and molestations of the people by Fulani herdsmen.”

Onwuamalieza said: “We are saying enough is enough to these Fulani herdsmen. We want them to go away from our lands. They have been kidnapping our people and raping our woman who go to farm and yet nothing has been done about it.

“Only recently, the king of Ubul-Uku was kidnapped and killed and all the suspects arrested are Fulani. There have been several other kidnapping and killings of our people carried out by these Fulani herdsmen against our people.

“When we went into the bush to search for the Ubul-Uku monarch, we saw many women who told us how they were raped and their husbands beaten by Fulani herdsmen. Some of them could not tell their husbands because it is very shameful, but they told us.

“We want these people to go away. If they must stay, the government should build a place for them and proper census be taken of them so that we know them and not just allow them to go about destroying our farms, raping our women, killing our people and perpetrating all sorts of crimes. How can they come all the way from the North and be killing our people. Can you go to the North and do this?”

“The government should also equip us because we know and understand the terrain better than the security operatives. It is our land and we can help the police by showing them the way. For instance, when the dead body of the Ubulu-Uku King was found in the bush, the people did not call the police but they called us and told us because they were afraid that if they tell the police, the police will arrest them. So there is much information that we get from people that are not being given to the police for fear.”