Rampaging Herdsmen Kill 7 Edo Farmers

Suspected Fulani herdsmen have reportedly killed seven farmers in Ovia North East local Government Area of Edo State.

It was gathered that the killings happened at Ugboke, Osodi, Okokodo, Ariyan and Yoruba camp which are majorly farming communities in the local government area.

A resident of the area, Mrs Janet Ighodaro said the incident happened on Wednesday and that the suspected herdsmen took over the popularly Yoruba camp as a base to launch attacks into various communities in our state.

She said she was lucky to have escaped stray bullets during the attacks and that she ran for safety to take refuge with her family in Benin City.

She alleged that “four of the victims were returning from their farms when they were shot and killed on the spot.

Ighodaro noted that, no presence of security in the farming communities, adding that when the police were contacted, they stopped at a neibghouring community; insisting that they would not go further into the bushes but instructed that the villagers should bring the dead bodies to them in their location.

But the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Edo State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor (SP), confirmed the incident and said all efforts were being made to arrest the perpetrators.

”The State Police Command is aware of the incident that happened within the jurisdiction of Ekhiadolor Divisional Police Command. The DPO and his operatives, visited the crime site and evacuated the bodies and moves are on to ensure that the place is calm and lives return to normalcy.

“Also, the Police is carrying out its investigation to effect the arrest of the criminal herdsmen who perpetuated the dastardly acts. The command is bent on using every legal means to fish out the criminals,” Nwabuzor added.

Meanwhile, bereaved kinsmen of one of the seven persons killed Wednesday by herdsmen in Ovia North East on Thursday, took the dead body of their kinsman to the Edo State government House, Benin City.

The angry protesters moved from their communities to the government house, to complain against the incessant killngs by herdsmen in the State, particularly at the Ovia local government area.

One of the leaders of the protesters, Mr. Michael Idahosa, said the communities can no longer bear the incessant attacks of killer herdsmen in their areas and that they have decided to bring the dead body to government house so that the governor can see their plight.

“We are here to protest the killing of herdsmen in our communities.The governor came to Ovia North East in 2017 when herdsmen killed one of our persons and promised to tackle the problem of herdsmen in our local government but the government did not”, he addded.

Addressing the protesters, Edo State deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu said, the problem of insecurity is a national problem and that Governor Obaseki has gone to Abuja with other governors to discuss the security problems with the president.

He pleaded with the protesters to be patient, that the government is working to stop herdsmen attack.

“The problem of insecurity is a national problem and that is why the governor is in Abuja with other governors to find a solution to it. We want to assure you that the government will find a solution to the problem, ” posited.

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