There was tension in Okumoni Community, Okordia clan, in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State as the youths of the community warned against incessant attacks.
The youths warned that they may be forced into a reprisal attack as self-defence if the killings of innocent indigenes continue.
A week ago, it was reportedly that some herdsmen killed two chiefs from Zarama and Okumoni communities both in the Okordia clan and injured several others.
Speaking for the youths, the Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, Chairman, Okordia clan, Comrade Raymond Akadumeme, made it known that they will no longer watch herdsmen kill people within their communities, especially as securities operatives have allegedly shy away from the crimes.
He noted that the youths will protect the community “violently”.
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“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,” he said.
Also speaking, another youth leader, Mr Alika Kemebi Betterland, from Ayamabele Community, cited cases of deaths within their community that has been caused by herdsmen attacks.
He lamented that the community has no one to come to their aid as the gun-wielding herdsmen shoot at residents at will.
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.”