Residents of Ike-Onicha in Onicha-Ukwuani, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State have turned to traditional spiritual practices after alleging that armed herdsmen occupied their farmlands, forcing families to abandon farming and deepening fears over food security.
The community says the presence of the herders has left many farmers unable to cultivate or harvest crops for nearly a month, raising concerns about hunger and livelihoods in an area that depends heavily on subsistence agriculture.
According to community leaders, repeated attempts to persuade the herders to leave peacefully were unsuccessful. They claim the herders established a camp between Ike-Onicha and Ogbagu, making many residents, particularly women, afraid to access their farms because of fears of kidnapping, rape, or violent attacks.
Ogbuiji Augustine Chukwuma, Onochieze and Secretary to the Okpala Uku of Ike-Onicha, said the community exhausted peaceful dialogue before elders decided to invoke the deities traditionally believed to protect their ancestral land.
He explained that the decision was taken after repeated crop destruction and what residents described as an increasing threat to their survival. Chukwuma said families now struggle to feed themselves because farming activities have been disrupted for weeks.
“We wake up hungry and go to bed hungry,” he said, adding that the community’s only wish is for the herders to leave so residents can safely return to their farms.
The Delta North Livestock Management Committee confirmed receiving complaints from the community. Its Coordinator, Matthew Ujene, said officials visited the area and found cattle grazing within the disputed forest.
According to Ujene, authorities dismantled an unauthorized camp allegedly occupied by the herders after efforts to persuade them to vacate the area failed. He added that the matter has been referred to the local government chairman, who is expected to convene a security meeting to address the crisis.
Ujene also reiterated his support for enforcing Delta State’s ban on open grazing, arguing that stronger implementation of the law would help protect farming communities and prevent similar conflicts.
The incident highlights the continuing tensions between farming communities and cattle herders across parts of Nigeria, where disputes over land use, grazing routes, and security have repeatedly resulted in displacement, economic hardship, and humanitarian concerns.
As residents await further government action, many say restoring security is essential if farmers are to return to their fields and avoid a worsening food crisis.
, and a deepening food crisis.
