Tension in Olomu Kingdom in Ughelli South local government area of Delta state was heightened recently, as residents gathered at Oguname-Olomu to protest an alleged robbery, rape, killing, destruction of farmland and an attempt by suspected Fulani herdsmen to forcefully take over their lands.

The protesters, comprising old and young women, lamented that the suspected herdsmen has stopped them from going to farm, as they alleged that they are always raped, while their farm products such as cassava were being harvested at gunpoint to feed their cows, saying that those who made attempt to resist them were shot dead.

They alleged that recently, the Fulani herdsmen device a new method whereby they ambushed unsuspecting indigenes at the Oguname Ughelli road, robbed them of their money and goods before killing them.

They stated that one person, whose name could not be ascertain, was allegedly killed by the suspected herders at a particular spot in the area, noting that, the victim who was driving on an SUV Murano Jeep was shot at a random killing him on the spot.

They paraded placards calling for help against the suspected invaders, chanting derisive songs.

Speaking to journalists on the development, a youth leader in Okpare-Olomu community, Freeman Godwin Aghoshe said; “Our people have suffered in the hands of this boys. Government allows them to carry weapons around, but we dare not even go after them with sticks, government will come after us, he claimed.

He alleged that the herders had occupied and destroyed crops planted on over 4500 acres of land at Olomu bushes. “What they want is to invade our land and chase us away. They even come out in broad day light with powerful guns to rob at Ophorigbalacommunity, a boundary community between Oguname-Olomuand Ovwor-Olomu very close to an army checkpoint.

When contacted through a phone call, the Commander of the Olomu Central Vigilante of the Viligante Group of Nigeria VGN, Commander Ufuoma Arigi, he said the excesses of the Fulani herdsmen is becoming unbearable, saying that, the first day of the first phase of the 14 days lockdown, the Fulani herdsmen at about 6am ambushed a resident of Ophori-Olomubetween Ogoni-Olomu and Oguname-Olomu, and he was killed.

He alleged that within two days, another resident who was taking his wife to Ughelli in the early hours was again ambushed along Ophorigbala road where they used a heavy wood to flog the man but for the helmet he wore, he would have been killed.

He said several efforts to reach out to them trade on a path of peace prove abortive.

He disclosed further that, he was so surprised when the owner of the cows that destroyed farm products in Olomu Kingdom went to the Ughelli Area Command to petition the Olomu people and the vigilante group that three of his cows are missing.

When contacted, the Ughelli Area Commander of the Nigeria Police, Alhaji Lawal Asif could not be reach as his phone.