Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Residents of Ovu Community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State staged a protest over growing insecurity, with women chanting, "Hausa (herdsmen) must go," while expressing concerns over the alleged destruction of farmlands, harassment of farmers, and other security challenges they attribute to suspected herdsmen.
The protest, which took place on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, saw dozens of women from the community marching through the streets, carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs. The demonstrators demanded the immediate evacuation of suspected herdsmen from the area, whom they accused of destroying crops, raping women, and creating an atmosphere of fear that has made farming and other economic activities nearly impossible.
A leader of the protest, who spoke to journalists, said the community had endured years of attacks and harassment without meaningful intervention from security agencies or the government. "We can no longer farm in peace. Our daughters are being raped. Our husbands are being killed. We have cried out, but no one is listening. Enough is enough," she said.
The protest in Ovu Community is the latest in a series of similar demonstrations across Delta State, where agrarian communities have repeatedly come under attack from armed herders. In recent months, protests have erupted in Ozoro, Orhorho, Abraka, and other communities, all demanding government protection from violent herdsmen. In May 2026, over 500 women from Ozoro in Isoko North LGA staged a peaceful protest over the continuous destruction of their farmlands and crops. In June 2026, women from Orhorho community in Ughelli South LGA blocked the East-West Road to protest incessant rape and attacks by herdsmen.
The recurring protests underscore the deepening security crisis in Delta State, where farmer-herder conflicts have intensified in recent years. Community leaders have repeatedly called on the state government to deploy more security personnel to affected areas, establish permanent security posts, and address the root causes of the conflicts.
As of the time of filing this report, the Delta State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the Ovu Community protest. The state government has also yet to respond to the demands of the protesting women. However, the growing wave of protests across the state suggests that residents are losing patience with what they perceive as the government's failure to protect them from armed herdsmen.
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