Youths of Okumoni Community, Okordia clan, in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, have warned that they may be forced into a reprisal attack as self-defence if the killings of innocent indigenes continue.
DAILY POST gathered that two chiefs from Zarama and Okumoni communities both in the Okordia clan were allegedly killed while several others were injured in an attack by herdsmen a week ago.
According to the Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, Chairman, Okordia clan, Comrade Raymond Akadumeme, the people can no longer watch herdsmen kill their people, and the security operatives keep mute, adding that it is unacceptable, and they can’t continue living in silence.
“Enough is enough, we will have to protect ourselves violently. Our people were fishing in lake Sam, and they brought their cows to graze where we have a farmland, attempt to refrain them from destroying our cassava farm led to the killing of our deputy paramount ruler,” he said.
“We call on the government to take every necessary action to nip this in the bud, we can’t be slaves in our own community, just because they were told to move their cows away from our farmland, they resorted to killings, we won’t accept it anymore.
“They were told to move their cows away from the land, and they refused, while we insisted, they went straight and brought a gun and shot at the deceased with two other persons. By the time other people ran into the community to raise alarm, they ran away while we met the injured persons and the deceased on the floor, bleeding.
“We had to move those injured to the hospital while the deceased was deposited in the morgue. We have informed the necessary authorities of the issue.”
Another youth leader, Mr Alika Kemebi Betterland, from Ayamabele Community, said Mr Bob Wilson is another victim of a herdsmen attack, after the first attack that took the life of Chief Alexander Diri, just last week in the same gruesome manner.
He stated that the situation is gradually getting out of hand because, at this time, they are helpless, and nobody is saying anything, noting that they carry arms at will in the forest in the name of grazing while shooting anytime they are told to do the right thing.
He said, “They attack the fishing lakeside in the early hours of Monday without any form of resistance hence, when the news came to the community, some youths went into the forest, not for reprisal or retaliation but to rescue the victims and it was done, if not we would have had more casualties.
“As we speak, they are still in the forest roaming about. We have created awareness because we can’t remain silent while our people are dying. Some of those injured and later rescued are currently in the hospital responding to treatment.”
Reacting to the incident, the Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Asinim Butswat, said, “On 20th March 2023, One Chief Bob Wilson 49 years was allegedly killed by suspected herdsmen at Okumoni forest, Okordia.
“Police detectives have visited the scene and evacuated the corpse to the mortuary for autopsy. Investigation is ongoing.”
