Edo senators cry out as herdsmen rape 6, kill 2 women

Deadly criminals, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, have attacked two villages in Edo Central and Edo North Senatorial Districts of Edo State.

During the reported raid, two women were allegedly raped and killed in a community called Ewu in Edo Central, while four were raped in another community in Edo North Senatorial District of the state.

These revelations were contained in a motion, sponsored by Senator Clifford Ordia who represents Edo Central on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday. The motion is tagged ‘Need to curtail the activities of Fulani Herdsmen in Edo State’.

Ordia’s claims were corroborated by Senator Francis Alimikhena, who represents Edo North Senatorial District.

Accordingly, the Senate has mandated security agencies “to halt, apprehend and bring to justice the criminal elements posing as herdsmen who derive pleasure in destroying lives and properties across Nigeria.”

An adhoc committee already set up by the Senate and chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya, to investigate activities of Fulani herdsmen in the country, has been mandated to include the recent attacks in Edo State.

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Explaining how the attacks were carried out on the 22nd of May, 2017, Senator Ordia said: “These ravaging herdsmen entered into a farmland located in Ewu Community, Esan Central Local Government of Edo State raping two women, Mrs. Martina Emoyon and Mrs. Ariu and strangled them to death, destroyed crops and sacked a lot of persons from their various farmlands.

“Consequent upon these criminal activities of the Fulani herdsmen, the youths of Ewu engaged in a peaceful protest to draw the attention of the Federal Government to the problem. Sadly one Ehimen Donald Abuya was shot and the victim is presently lying critically ill at Irrua Specialist Hospital.

“Since this destructive attack, it has been observed that no farmer in the communities have engaged in farming activities for fear of being killed.

“I am concerned about the heinous and criminal activities being perpetrated by Fulani Herdsmen who in the violent act of ravaging communities, depriving persons of right to life and prosperity, raping, defiling women and destroying farms crops amongst other criminal activities across the country.

“Despite the public outcry and previous resolutions of the National Assembly as regards the criminal activities of herdsmen, there seems to be no visible action on the part of government to curtail, abate or totally stop the criminal activities of these criminal elements among Fulani Herdsmen.”

Quoting section 33(1) of chapter (iv) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Senator Ordia said “every person has a right to life and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in the execution of a court sentence in respect of criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.

“The Africa Chapter on Human and Peoples Right of which Nigeria is a signatory also provides for Right to Life and Respect for Integrity of Persons, Freedom from Slavery, Torture, Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading treatment

“Section 43 of the constitution provides that every citizen shall have a right to acquire and own immovable property anywhere in Nigeria.

“The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) in section 14(b) clearly provides that the Security and Welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”

Senator Alimikhena, who revealed that four women were raped in a community in his Senatorial District, also claimed that the herdsmen have taken over highways and farmlands in the area.

He said his people are handicapped, since they are not allowed to bear arms. He begged the Senate to intervene and stop the carnage in his area.

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