Fulani herdsmen takes over Ijaw territories, Ambushs Ijaw Victims, kills, maim

by Passman Akpos

In a recent development on an account of an eye witness from Bomadi of Delta state who pleaded anonymous.

On a chat with Tarakirivoice, the fortunate Victim explained his miraculous escape in the hands of the blood drug herdsmen on Ijaw territory, locking unsuspecting Victims to their sudden death.

Recall, a former IYC president Dr Chris Ekiyor was reportedly attacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen who shot at his car and others along the east- west road injuring six passengers including a serving member of the NYSC who was shot on the left side of his chest and both arms.

This unfortunate incident occurred on Sunday the 5th of march 2023 along Agadama Area from the Ohoro Junction axis Delta state.

The story reads in part “I had my personal encounter with the brutal killer herdsmen on Sunday, the 5th Day of March 2023.

My dear People, I was involved in a near-fatal attack by Fulani herdsmen on my way from Patani to Bomadi on Sunday afternoon. After driving past Agadama from the Ohoro Junction axis, we came to the section of the road where the flood waters damaged stretches of the right flank of the tarred road after Agudama Community.

All of a sudden, at a few metres to the sharp bend, we saw men hurriedly emerging from the bush holding on to a big log of wood by the edges and dropping it on the main road while others stood behind.

As they rushed out with the big log to block the road by the sharp bend, our Keke driver applied brakes in an attempt to make a U-turn, but due to the sustained speed, we summersaulted in the process of making the U-turn but somehow, mysteriously, none of us (3 passengers) was hurt.

I was the first to fly out of the Keke while the tire at my end was high in the sky. But as I landed on the main road and looked back, the driver and the other passenger were running towards me while a Fulani man on red polo shirt was trying to severe them from behind. This prompted a hundred metres dash.

As we took to our heels immediately, the one who drew out his machet and ran towards us couldn’t cut anyone and soon backed down. This was because, as he chased us with his machet raised into the air, threatening to cut if we don’t stop running, we outrun him bcos of the machet he held and raised high in the air thereby impeding his own racing movement.

After hundred metres race, we stopped running and saw that they were pushing the Keke to the road side and also arranging the log of wood which they hurriedly dropped on seeing that we were trying to turn about but ended up tumbling. As we escaped from the first group and walking fast while trying to catch breadth, little did we know that another group was waiting for us ahead so as to trap us within.

Divine intervention prevailed in a way that we were already by the position or section of main road where the second attack group was before they emerged. What I mean is that, their original intention was to sandwich us between the blockade group and the awaiting ambush group so that while we’re in the centre, we are faced with two options either to surrender or run into the forest.

But somehow, that plan failed bcos before the second (ambush) group could emerge to block or halt us, we were already in that section of the road, so before they emerged from the bushes, we (walking on the main road), saw them. This prompted the beginning of race two. We were running, heading back towards Agadama town. Knowing full well that we are already exhausted from the first chase, the fresh group emerged from the forest to chase us afresh.

We were only able to run for a few metres before losing all muscle energies but we kept jogging. So, one of them caught up with us and was about to butcher the man at the back when I heard him speaking Hausa. Saying “Zen kashi ku” meaning I’ll kill you all. At this point in time, I realised that there’s no point running again but to stand and tackle the guy closest to us.

I spoke Izon telling the driver to stop so that we can disarm and decimate the one closest to us but he refused to heed to my suggestion. I told him again and again but he refused. I used pidgin English bcos the third passenger with us was Urhobo. Still they didn’t mind me. The dan Fulani then said we should drop our monies.

It was then that I replied him in Hausa that there’s no money. I brought out my wallet and showed him but he was not satisfied. I actually had money in my pocket but I didn’t open up to him. As he heard me speak Hausa, he then put his machet back into the sheath but insisting that we drop our monies but I replied in Hausa telling him there’s no money.

He then asked that is it not money that is in my pocket? I said it’s phone. As this was happening, all the approaching vehicles heading to Bomadi could be seen making U-turns upon seeing the deadly Fulani operation.

The Keke driver who was on boxers threw off his trousers hanging on his neck. He had two phones, ATM card and a small hand bag on him. He threw all of them on the road. I dropped my wallet but after inspecting it, he dropped it too. I then dropped my phone. The driver had already dropped his own too while running. The third man was almost dying from exhaustion.

I walked past him and returned to collect my wallet and picked my ATM card and other items which fell on the road. I was ready to die with him. He checked and pocketed the phones and held the other items, then ran back into the forest.

By the time we got to Agadama, a long fleet of cars had parked with drivers and passengers loitering about.The matter was reported to the JTF who swung into action but only succeeded in taking the Keke from Agadama to the military base in Bomadi.

Agadama Community Chairman and Vigilante had already taken the Keke from the point of blockade to their community before the JTF arrived later. It was two days after, on Tuesday that I retrieved my SIM card through SIM Swap.

However, I got my phone back yesterday morning in another operation. That’s story for another day.Killer herdsmen menace is now a grim tale and reality in our territories. Anyone can be a victim if they’re not lucky” he noted.