…Protesters warn of self-defence as attacks spread across Ogoniland
…Submit letters to DSS, police, Govt house
By Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt
Youth groups under the umbrella of the Coalition of Rivers State Youth Bodies (CORYB) on Tuesday took to the streets of Port Harcourt in protest over what they described as a “growing wave of insecurity” caused by Fulani herdsmen in communities across the state.
The demonstrators, led by CORYB Chairman Comrade Imeabe Savour Oscar, visited key institutions including the Rivers State Police Headquarters, the Department of State Services (DSS) office, and the Government House gate, where they presented their concerns and demands to state officials.
Speaking directly to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Alhassan Kawu, the Director of DSS, and the State Government’s Sole Administrator, Comrade Oscar declared that the Ogoni people were exhausted by the repeated killings of their kinsmen by suspected herdsmen. He stressed that the situation had become intolerable, prompting the protest as a direct appeal for urgent intervention to protect lives and property.
He named Nyokuru, Ebubu, Sogho, and Ue-Ken as communities recently targeted in violent attacks, resulting in multiple fatalities.
“If these unprovoked assaults continue, we will be forced to take matters into our own hands,” Oscar warned. “These acts of aggression are unacceptable. We have endured enough and will no longer stand idly by as our people are slaughtered and our communities thrown into chaos.”
CORYB issued a demand for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all Fulani herdsmen from Ogoniland, describing their continued presence as a serious threat to the peace and security of the region.
“We are calling on the appropriate authorities to act decisively and without delay to halt these attacks and ensure they never happen again,” Oscar said.
The coalition also called for justice for victims of previous assaults and made it clear that failure to act on their demands would compel Ogoni communities to adopt self-defence strategies.
“Let it be clearly understood: any further attack on the lives of the Ogoni people will not be reported to the police. We will defend ourselves,” he stated.
In a show of solidarity, the spokesperson of the coalition, Mr Tamuno Belema, warned that the issue should not be viewed as isolated to Ogoniland.
“Today it is the Ogonis. Tomorrow it could be the Okrikans, the Ikwerres, or the Etches. An injury to one is an injury to all,” Belema said, urging collective action and support across ethnic groups in Rivers State.
Responding on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, DCP Alhassan Kawu assured the group that their concerns would be relayed promptly. He apologised on behalf of the CP for not meeting the protesters in person and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to addressing insecurity in the state.
Protesters carried placards with bold messages including: “Police, intervene for Ogoni people,” “Enforce the law against open grazing in Rivers State,” and “Stop killing Ogonis.”
According to our correspondent, the protest march began at UTC Junction, proceeded to the DSS office, then to the Police Headquarters, and concluded at the Government House gate. At each stop, Comrade Oscar submitted a letter outlining the coalition’s demands.
