From Staff Writer
At least one person is feared dead and several others have been injured following an attack on Ukhun community in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State by suspected Fulani herdsmen. The incident was confirmed in a distressing video, which has been circulating widely on social media.
In the video, a voice is heard providing a situation report: “This is Ukhun Community in Esan West Local Government Area. We are under attack. The Fulani herdsmen have blocked the road. They killed Mr. Dan, an Igbira man, in the bush this morning, and we are still searching for others in the area. We need help, we need rescue. Please, this is a distress call from Ukhun.”
Reports indicate that the suspected herders initially attempted to kidnap farmers on their way to work, but the farmers managed to escape. However, several others who were unaware of the ongoing attack while working in the fields became targets, with one farmer, identified as Mr. Daniel, tragically losing his life after being shot.
The community, which is predominantly made up of farmers, has been struggling with increasing cases of kidnapping and violence, making daily life increasingly dangerous. This latest attack is one of several to have plagued the area over the past two years. Just last month, Mallam Bello Obadan, another farmer, was macheted and kidnapped while heading to his farm. He was left for dead but miraculously survived after spending three months in hospital receiving treatment for severe injuries.
Local leaders and residents are now urgently calling on both state and federal authorities to intervene. Alex Eguakhide, CEO of FECHA Project Ltd, expressed concern that the violence has rendered it impossible for many residents to safely attend to their farms, leaving them struggling to feed their families. He urged the government to take swift action to ensure the safety of the community and put an end to the frequent attacks by herdsmen.
In a statement, the Onojie (traditional ruler) of Ukhun Kingdom, Zaiki Thomas Aboiralor Omoigiade, appealed directly to Governor Monday Okpebholo, the Commissioner of Police Mrs. Betty Nekpen Isokpan Otimenyin, and other security officials to provide immediate protection for the community.
“The people of Ukhun are in urgent need of government intervention to safeguard their lives and property,” Chief Omoigiade stated.
When contacted for comment, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, Moses Joel Yamu, said the command had not yet been briefed on the incident but promised to follow up and provide further details. At the time of publication, no additional information had been received from the police.
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