Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Residents of Kokori, an agrarian community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, took to the streets on Thursday in anger and grief following a violent attack on one of their own by suspected killer herdsmen. The protest, which drew large numbers of youths, women and community elders, was triggered by what locals described as a brazen and unprovoked assault that has left a middle-aged farmer battling for his life in hospital.
The victim, identified as 40-year-old Edafe Efeurhobo, was reportedly attacked in broad daylight near his family home after confronting herdsmen who had allowed their cattle to graze on his mother’s cassava farm. According to residents, the farm, which serves as a primary source of livelihood for the family, had been repeatedly encroached upon by roaming cows, leading to rising tension between farmers and herders in the area.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that Efeurhobo approached the herdsmen calmly and warned them to stop grazing their cattle on the farm. His intervention, residents said, was met with hostility rather than dialogue. The herdsmen allegedly ignored the warning and, moments later, attacked him with a sharp cutlass, inflicting grievous injuries that shocked the quiet community.
Community sources said the assailants slashed Efeurhobo’s two hands and inflicted deep cuts on his face, leaving him bleeding heavily before fleeing the scene. Neighbours who rushed to the area reportedly found him lying in a pool of blood and immediately raised an alarm. He was subsequently taken to a nearby hospital and later referred for advanced medical care due to the severity of his injuries. As of Thursday, he was said to be in critical condition.
The attack sparked outrage across Kokori, with residents accusing authorities of failing to protect farming communities from repeated violence linked to open grazing. By mid-morning, protesters had gathered along major roads within the community, chanting slogans and demanding urgent action from the state and federal governments. Some demonstrators carried placards condemning insecurity and calling for justice for the injured farmer.
Protesters described the assault as a breaking point for a community that has endured years of tension between farmers and herders. They argued that while crop destruction has long been a source of conflict, the latest incident represented a dangerous escalation, turning a land-use dispute into a near-fatal attack. Residents warned that continued inaction could push communities into self-help, a scenario they said would further destabilise the region.
Elders who addressed the protesters urged calm but insisted that the matter must not be treated lightly. They called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute those responsible, stressing that failure to do so would embolden perpetrators and deepen fear among farmers who depend on their land for survival. According to them, cassava farming remains a cornerstone of Kokori’s local economy, and unchecked grazing threatens both livelihoods and food security.
When contacted, the Delta State Police Command confirmed the incident. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, acknowledged that an attack had occurred and said the command was aware of the situation. While he did not disclose details of arrests at the time, he assured that investigations were underway and that the police would take appropriate steps to restore calm and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The police confirmation lent official weight to residents’ claims, but many protesters expressed scepticism, citing previous incidents in which attacks were reported without resulting in arrests or convictions. Some residents said similar disputes had occurred in neighbouring communities, often ending with farms destroyed and victims left without redress. They argued that this pattern has eroded trust in law enforcement and heightened tensions between rural communities and herders.
Delta State, like several other parts of southern Nigeria, has witnessed recurring clashes between farmers and herdsmen, often linked to open grazing and competition over land and water resources. Although the state government has repeatedly condemned violence and pledged to enforce laws regulating grazing, communities say implementation has been uneven, leaving rural areas vulnerable.
Security analysts note that such attacks, when left unresolved, can inflame ethnic and communal sentiments, particularly in regions where agriculture remains the backbone of local economies. They warn that the perception of impunity, whether real or imagined, fuels cycles of retaliation and undermines long-term peace. In Kokori, residents said their protest was aimed at drawing attention to their plight before the situation spirals out of control.
Human rights advocates have also weighed in, describing the attack as a violation of the victim’s fundamental rights and calling for swift prosecution. They argue that the use of machetes or cutlasses in disputes over farmland points to the easy availability of weapons and the failure of conflict-resolution mechanisms at the grassroots level. According to them, disputes that could be settled through mediation often escalate into violence due to mistrust and weak enforcement.
Meanwhile, the family of Edafe Efeurhobo remains in anguish as doctors struggle to stabilise his condition. Relatives said the injuries to his hands could permanently affect his ability to work, even if he survives. For a family dependent on farming income, the long-term implications are dire, raising fears of economic hardship alongside emotional trauma.
As the protest gradually dispersed later in the day, community leaders said they would continue to engage authorities until concrete action is taken. They called for increased police patrols, clear enforcement of grazing regulations, and support for victims of violence. Some also urged the government to invest in sustainable livestock management solutions that would reduce friction between herders and farmers.
The Kokori incident has once again thrust the issue of rural insecurity into the spotlight, highlighting the fragile balance between agriculture, livelihoods and public safety. For residents, the attack is not just about one injured farmer but about the right to farm without fear. As investigations continue, many will be watching closely to see whether justice is served and whether decisive measures are taken to prevent similar attacks in the future.
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