By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Warri
DELTA: Vehicular movement along the only access road to Bomadi and other coastal communities in Delta State was brought to a standstill on Monday as residents of Uduophori in Patani Local Government Area staged a massive protest.
The demonstration was in response to the brutal attack on a 28-year-old motorcyclist, Freedom Akpodiete, whose hand was reportedly amputated by suspected herdsmen.
The protesters, armed with placards bearing messages such as “Fulani Leave Us Alone,” “Stop Raping Our Women,” and “Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Rescue Us!” expressed their frustration over the persistent attacks allegedly perpetrated by herdsmen in the area.
Residents have vowed to sustain their protests until the authorities take decisive action to protect them from further attacks.
Speaking to journalists, the President-General of Uduophori community, ThankGod Ado, condemned the attack, describing it as the latest in a series of violent incidents.
“We are tired of living in fear. This attack on our brother, who was dragged into the forest and had his hand amputated, is the final straw. Our people can no longer farm because of these herdsmen. They destroy our crops, demand ransoms, and assault our women,” Ado lamented.
An elderly resident, 85-year-old Pa Benjamin Obotorino, recalled years of suffering at the hands of herdsmen.
“For over 15 years, they have been terrorizing us. Their cows no longer eat grass; they feast on our cassava and yams. They kidnap our people, rape women, and even attack men. We are not safe in our own land,” he said.
Women leader of the community, Mrs. London Edith, fought back tears as she pleaded for urgent intervention.
“We can no longer live with these strangers. Our daughters, wives, and even schoolchildren are not safe. The government must act now before we lose more lives,” she said.
A resident, Henry Emaduku, recounted previous attacks, including the amputation of another man’s hand in 2023 and an assault on the community’s primary school head teacher in 2024.
“Now, our primary school has been taken over by herdsmen. The school is shut down. We cannot sit back while they continue attacking us,” he said.
Chairman of the Motorcycle and Keke Riders Association in the community also called on the federal and state governments to intervene, warning that continued inaction could lead to a breakdown of law and order.