Uduophori People Cry Out Over Attacks Of Herdsmen

By Ambrose Ologide

The people of Urhobo Community of Uduophori in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State have cried out over the constant attacks of herdsmen.

The President General of the community, Mr Thankgod Ado addressed journalists on the issue in Effurun Uvwie Local Government Area last weekend.

Ado lamented that the people of the area are presently under the siege of the herdsmen as he stated that the people of Uduophori and other neighbouring communities are under the regular attacks of the hoodlums even in broad day light.

An elderly male Uduophori indigene who has also suffered attacks from herdsmen.

He narrated how the people including married women and the aged were kidnapped from their homes, fish ponds and farms by the herdsmen who demanded for huge sum of money for their release and that married women were even raped in the process.

He painfully narrated how a youth of the community was amputated by the herdsmen.

“The young man would have lost his life if not for his elder brother who is a medical doctor.

“We are afraid of staying at homes, going to our fish ponds and farm lands because of the fear of the herdsmen.

“We are appealing to both the federal and state governments to come to our rescue , for we are under the siege of the herdsmen who invade our homes, fish ponds and farm lands with impunity,” he added.

“Residents of Torou-Angiama, Bolou-Angiama, Bulou-Apelebiri (Bedeseigha), Ohoro, Agadama, Aven and other communities in the general area have continued to face intimidation, attacks, violence and kidnappings in the hands of the marauding armed herders since 1999.” Ado lamented.

ALSO READ: FG Reaffirms Commitment To Address Ecological challenges In Ugbokodo, As Okpe Monarch, Dafinone, Others Visit, SGF

He painfully recalled that in that same year, the Nigeria Police were attacked and ambushed by the same set of terrorists in the general area and some policemen reportedly lost their lives, while some others were missing.

According to the President General of Uduophori Community, this has emboldened the herdsmen cum terrorists to unleashed terror on the embattled people particularly during dry season from November-April when they bring their cows from Elele in Rivers State, and then take over the bushes of Ohoro, Agadama, Uduophori and Angiama, grazing on farms and molesting and attacking the locals to instill fear in the people.

“To sustain the fear, they now resort to killing, rapping and cutting off the hands of their victims who dared to resist them. This is to teach the victims a lesson and implant it in the hearts of the locals that severe consequences awaited whomsoever that challenged their impunity,” he painfully added.