Members of Uluoke community in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State have been outraged by the killing of a youth by suspected Fulani herdsmen, while sleeping in his home with his family.
The brigands also took away his pregnant wife and sister after they shot him dead at about 1.30am on Monday. The attackers who seem to have a beef to grind with the promising youth targeted only his home. Neighbours who were scared off by the gunshots, later discovered him in a pool of his own blood with his three children crying over his lifeless body.
“People heard gunshots around the deceased’s house but were scared to come out. When people finally came after the gunshots subsided, the man was found dead in his own pool of blood,” narrated a member of the community.
“The killers took his wife and her sister into the bush and are yet to be found. At this moment, the pregnant woman and her sister have not been found.”
The women in the community all week marched in protest not only because the gruesome killing and abduction of the pregnant wife and sister. They called on the Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, Hon. Dekeri Anamero, member representing the Etsako Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, and security agencies to come to their aid and rescue them from the grip of the suspected herdsmen.
One of the protesting women, Rashidetu, said in a video that they were not only protesting over the killing of a youth and the kidnapping of his wife and her sister.
“We are protesting not only the death of the young man and the kidnapping of his wife and her sister, but we are also sad about the long absence of security in the Uluoke community,” she lamented.
Rashidetu added that they can no longer go to their farms, as herdsmen had taken over, uprooting cassava to feed cows, kidnapping women, and killing anyone who attempted to stop them from destroying farmland. She, however, called on the government and security agencies to come to the aid of the community, as they were no longer able to access their farms.
The Edo State Police Command confirmed the incident. Moses Yamu, the Public Relations Officer of the Command said the police were on the trail of the kidnappers with a view to rescuing the victims and apprehending the perpetrators.
“The Command is aware. And necessary deployment has been made in that regard. Our men have sustained bush combing/rescue operation with a view to rescue the victims,” Yamu stated.
