From Victor Edozie, in Port Harcourt
Youth Groups in Rivers State under the auspices of Coalition of Rivers State Youth Bodies (CORYB), Tuesday carried out a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt over what they described as ,”growing wave and insecurity” perpetrated allegedly by herdsmen within their communities.
Addressing the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju at the Police Headquarters, Director of DSS and the Sole Administrator of the State at Government House Gate, the leader of the protesters and Chairman of CORYB, Comrd Imeabe Savour Oscar said the Ogonis are sick and tired of the incessant killings of their kinsmen by the suspected herdsmen.
This, he said, can no longer be tolerated, hence the protest to draw the attention of government and all relevant authorities to intervene and save the lives and property of the Ogoni people.
He alleged that herdsmen have killed residents of Nyokuru, Ebubu,Sogho and Ue-ken communities in Ogoni land.
He warned that if onslaught against his people continues, they will 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 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,” he 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, the 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.
“We will resort to self-help and self defense,” Comrd Oscar said.
Responding on behalf of the Commissioner of Police at Police Headquarters, DCP Alhassan Kawu said the CP is very serious with fight 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 him, for prompt action.
The protesters were armed with placards that bear inscriptions such as ‘Police intervene for Ogoni People’,Police enforce the law prohibiting open grazing in Rivers State’ and ‘Stop killing Ogonis’,among others.
Our Correspondent who monitored the protest observed that the protest started from UTC Junction to DSS Office and moved to Police Headquarters and terminated at Government House Gate.
