On Thursday, a violent confrontation erupted in the Kaiama community of the Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, as Nigerian Army personnel clashed with protesting Ijaw youths demanding the immediate evacuation of Fulani herdsmen from the area.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
The protest was reportedly triggered by an attack on a local farmer, believed to be a community indigene, who was allegedly assaulted by suspected herdsmen operating within the farmlands surrounding Kaiama. This incident has reignited long-standing tensions between local residents and nomadic cattle herders over issues of land use, security, and the destruction of farmland.
Hundreds of Ijaw youths took to the streets in a peaceful demonstration, calling on the state government and traditional leaders to expel the herdsmen, whom they accuse of posing a threat to their lives and livelihoods. However, the situation escalated when troops, believed to be members of the Joint Military Task Force stationed in the area, moved in to disperse the crowd.
Multiple sources have alleged that soldiers fired warning shots into the air and used force to break up the gathering, triggering chaos in the town.
“We were only protesting peacefully when the army came and started shooting into the air,” said a protester who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal. “One of our brothers was attacked on his farm and left for dead. Instead of addressing the issue, they are now turning against us.”
As the situation unfolds, community leaders are calling for a swift resolution to the growing conflict, urging both the government and military to prioritize the safety and security of local residents amid rising tensions with herdsmen.
Kindly share
