Herdsmen’s alleged fresh attack on Ovre-Abraka, Eku/Egun communities in Ethiope East Local Council of Delta State has unsettled its residents. According to the information rampaging herdsmen numbering over 2,000 allegedly attacked some farmers on their way home at the weekend and two were feared injured.
Senior police officers in Abraka Police Division, however, who wanted to stay anonymous, said no case of fresh attack was reported at their station, adding that the police have mounted 24 hours surveillance in the areas.
A statement issued and signed by Chief John Oghenovo, on behalf of the communities, claimed that over 10,000 herds of cattle, 2,000 herdsmen armed with sophisticated weapons, including AK 47, are allegedly camped around the Ovre-Abraka Eku/Egun across the River Ethiope. From that camp the herdsmen launched the attack on indigenes of Abraka but also indigenes of Egun/Eku as well as neighbouring communities, Okepara, Kokori, Isiokolo-Orhakpo, Ovei and Okurekpo/Egbo.
The statement reads in part: “Considering the herdsmen localisation in one place, one wonders why the security agencies have failed to swoop on them till date. Our housewives have been raped severally; we have tried to fight back the notion that the government of Nigeria and its security agencies are engaged in conspiracy of our silence against people when they are expected to protect the lives of the people.”
