Niger Delta human rights activist, Comrade Austin Ozobo, recounted how he and others were attacked by herdsmen along the Ohoror/Bomadi road in Delta State.
Ozobo revealed that the assailants accused them of being internet fraudsters, commonly referred to as “Yahoo Boys.”
Comrade Ozobo, who is the National President of the Ijaw People’s Development Initiative (IPDI), in a chat with Our Correspondent in Ayakoromo Community, said it was an “Act of God” that his life and those of others were spared during the attack.
He described the security situation in Delta State as very “alarming,” stressing that “one could no longer travel for fear of herdsmen.”
Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the herdsmen on Saturday, February 22, Comrade Ozobo said, “We were coming from a burial ceremony at Torugbene when our vehicle broke down around 6 p.m., about a kilometer before Agadama on Ohoror road.
“We were trying to find a solution, looking for a tire and a mechanic to fix the car. The process took us several hours. Eventually, we were able to get a mechanic and a new tire to fix our vehicle. Exactly at 10:30 p.m., the new tire and mechanic arrived.
“While we were fixing the car, all our attention was on the tire. Everyone pointed their phone torches at the mechanic who was fixing the tire. Suddenly, we saw some persons pointing torches at us, surrounding us in a circle. At very close range, they pointed their torches along with AK-47 and AK-49 rifles at us and ordered us to go down, warning that if anyone attempted to run, they would shoot.”
According to Ozobo, “Immediately, all of us went down. They took advantage of us. At first, the leader of the gang asked where we were coming from. They even called us Yahoo Boys, saying we should bring all our belongings because we were Yahoo Boys. We told them we were not Yahoo Boys, that we were just coming from a burial.
“One of them whispered to the leader that they should take us to the forest, but the leader downplayed that decision. Instead, they took all our phones and money. After that, they asked us to unlock our phones and transfer money. We were all crying that we didn’t have money to transfer. We were praying to our God to intervene.
“At that time, there was no security patrol along the Ohoror road. The military stationed at the extreme end of the bridge under construction in that area did not intervene. No one came to our rescue. The operation lasted for about an hour. We were all lying on the ground while people started unlocking their phones.
“One of the attackers approached me and asked me to delete my phone data instead of unlocking it. That was my sad experience.
“I was trying to delete information on my phone, and in the process, I managed to delete my banking apps from both of my phones.
“Suddenly, he came back and accused me of disobeying him. I asked how I was disobeying him, but he used a cutlass to hit me on my back about three times. The leader then intervened, saying it was not ‘delete’ but ‘unlock’ that his boy was trying to say.
“I was trying to unlock my phone, but out of annoyance and frustration, I couldn’t settle down and do it properly. The leader then pointed out that everyone else had finished unlocking their phones and, since I was being defiant, they should take me to the forest.
“But the ancestors of Ijaw land and God Almighty would not allow that. I was praying within me.
“Suddenly, the leader ordered me to give them my password. I called out my password, they entered it, and my phone opened. Thereafter, the leader told the boys they had overstayed at the scene and should move to the forest. Before they left, they asked us to stand up and move.
“I wasn’t pleased with this because, in several instances, robbers or bandits have asked victims to move before shooting them from behind. I wasn’t comfortable with the idea. When others stood up, I didn’t.
“After some time, we moved to our vehicle and managed to escape from the scene that night.”
Comrade Ozobo described Ohoror/Bomadi road as a death trap, saying, “Before our incident, Manager’s brother, one Febogha, was killed about two or three days earlier, on February 22, Saturday. After our incident, the same herdsmen operating in the area killed two residents at Uwheru Community.
“When I spoke with people from Agadama Community, they told me the situation was out of control, and they could no longer stay in their homes comfortably or sleep with both eyes closed. They even evacuated students from the extreme end of the community. Many residents have left that part of the community. Last Saturday, I was told that herdsmen raided Agadama again, forcing all residents to flee to Ohoror Community.”
Comrade Ozobo said, “The situation is precarious and tense,” pointing out that Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is not doing anything about it. “That has been my anger. How can you be ruling a state, your people are being attacked, and you say you are not aware of it? You cannot say you are not aware of it!”
Comrade Ozobo lambasted Governor Oborevwori, saying, “When you talk about development, it is a wide term. When people say a governor is developing a state, it’s a broad term. It’s not just about constructing roads. How many poor families have cars to drive on the roads?” he asked.
He said, “Development encompasses empowerment and proper security.
“Constructing roads alone cannot qualify you (Oborevwori) as a development master.”
Comrade Ozobo urged Governor Oborevwori to directly address the insecurity threatening the lives and properties of citizens and residents of the state by tackling the security challenges at Ohoror/Bomadi.
