Women in Delta State protest rising insecurity tied to a leadership dispute disrupting farming and daily life.
They urged government intervention, prompting assurances from officials to restore peace and prosecute those fueling the crisis.
Tension continues to rise in the Okpavuerhe Olomu community, located in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, as a group of angry women took to the streets in protest over worsening insecurity linked to an ongoing leadership conflict in the area.
The protesting women, carrying tree branches and chanting emotional songs, marched to the office of the local government chairman, Dr. Lucky Avweromre, urging him to intervene and help bring back peace to their troubled community.
According to the women, the community has become increasingly unsafe, especially for farmers, due to rising violence reportedly triggered by the leadership dispute. They accused cult groups and other criminal elements of taking advantage of the situation to unleash attacks, particularly in the farmlands, leaving many residents too afraid to go about their daily farming activities.
Speaking on behalf of the demonstrators, Mrs. Kesiena Arigi, along with Mrs. Lucy Aki, Mrs. Grace Edevwie, and Miss Aghogho Edole, explained that life in the community has become unbearable. They revealed that residents now live in constant fear as criminals have taken control of the bushes and farmland areas, using weapons to chase them away and destroy their crops.
The women recounted a recent violent incident in which a man was severely macheted, blaming the attack on suspected cultists linked to one of the factions involved in the leadership dispute.
In response to their outcry, Dr. Avweromre assured the women that the government was fully aware of the situation and warned all parties involved in the conflict to stop any actions that might worsen the crisis. Speaking firmly, he pledged that anyone caught disturbing the peace or engaging in illegal activities would face legal consequences.
The chairman expressed appreciation to the women for conducting a peaceful protest and for choosing dialogue over violence. He reminded them that efforts had already been made to resolve the leadership issue through meetings with law enforcement agencies and key stakeholders in the community.
He also condemned the use of thugs or hired criminals to seize control of community lands, stressing that it was illegal and unacceptable under the law. “Nobody has the right to prevent people, especially our women, from accessing their farms or doing their lawful businesses,” he said.
Avweromre called for calm and promised that the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is committed to restoring peace and ensuring that residents can return to their normal lives without fear.
