Suspected herdsmen kill 5 in Edo, many injured, displaced

Another tragic attack by assailants suspected to be Fulani herdsmen was recorded in Ughoha and Odiguete communities, in the Esan South-East and the Ovia North-East Local Government Areas of Edo State when no less than five victims were killed.

Reports say many were also left injured and displaced in the attack which is coming a week after residents of the community thronged the Government House and state House of Assembly in protest against attack by herdsmen.

According to reports, the herdsmen opened fire on a first-year student of the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, identified as Collins Ojierakhi, at Ugoha while he was returning home from Uromi along with his friends in the first incident.

In another attack which occurred In Odiguete community, the herdsmen allegedly invaded the community and shot sporadically, killing two persons in the process while others scampered for safety.

According to Mr. Festus Ojierakhi, father of the deceased student, he was informed about his sons death by the mother of another victim of the attack.

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He said; “I am just confused; I was actually in the house eating at about 8pm and I started asking about my son, who was not there. I was told that he went to Uromi with his friends on a motorcycle.

“It was around 9pm that the mother of my son’s friend started shouting, crying that herdsmen had killed her son. I rushed out of the house and I asked about my own son. I was told that he died too with his friend.

“We immediately sent some boys and ran to the place. When we got there, we were told that the police had come to take the corpse to the Ubiaja mortuary. I was told that my son and two others, including the friend, died. They said the other person that died was an Igbo.”

However, Mr. Chidi Nwabuzor, spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command revealed that he wasn’t aware of the incidents when contacted.

“I am not aware. I am yet to get the information. So, it means that I am not aware,” he said.

 

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