‘Delta monarchs now endangered species’

The Ovie of Oruarivie, Abraka, Uku Odjevworo Akpomeyoma Majoroh, Ojeta 11, has lamented his ordeals in the hands of some aggrieved youths of his communities, who attacked his palace following the alleged gruesome murder of Mr. Solomon Ejoor, by Fulani herdsmen in the farm.

The monarch, who spoke in his palace when the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) paid him a solidarity visit, told newsmen yesterday that the kings in Delta State are now endangered species because of jealousy, especially those whose tenure are rotational.

“On that fateful day, I was informed that herdsmen had killed someone in the bush and some aggrieved youths were protesting the killing and brought the body to the palace. I was still thinking of what to do when suddenly, they arrived and started destroying the palace, vandalising vehicles and shooting indiscriminately, even threatening to shoot me.

“It took the intervention of the army to dispatch the youths, leaving the body at the palace. If they kill or rape your wife and you are waiting for the king to order you to go to the bush to fight the herdsmen, it is not possible. The youths have desecrated the palace because they know the king does not see dead body and corpse don’t come into the palace.”

The monarch condemned the activities of herdsmen in the area and called on the government to address the issue with all seriousness before it gets out of hand, saying it is regrettable that some of his subjects think he has not done enough to address the menace of cattle rearers.

“The youths are saying I have not done enough because I have not given them instructions to fight the Fulani herdsmen, I cannot be involved in illegality, that is why we are calling on the Federal Government to act on time,” he added.

President-General, Oruarivie-Abraka Kingdom, Dr. Tedwins Emudainohaw, lamented that over 3,000 herdsmen have taken over the Ovre-Abraka forest and it is now like Sambisa forest.

“All the herdsmen that have been chased out of Ossissa, Umutu, and Ekpoma are now in the bush. Mothers have been raped in the presence of their children and husbands, some killed. That is the plight of my people.”