From Moshood Karim
Fear and uncertainty have gripped residents of Esan North East Local Government Area in Edo State following a series of coordinated attacks by suspected Fulani armed herders and hunters, which culminated in the abduction of six people on Wednesday night.
According to local sources, the overnight assault began in the Uzea community, where five individuals were reportedly kidnapped. A separate but possibly related incident occurred in Amedokhian, where one more person was seized, bringing the total number of abductees to six.
Speaking to newsmen under the condition of anonymity, a community elder described the growing sense of insecurity that has come to define life in the area.
“We can no longer sleep with our eyes closed. Every night is a nightmare,” the elder lamented. “The people are living in fear. Our repeated cries for help have fallen on deaf ears, and these armed herders continue to attack us with impunity.”
Local sources allege that the perpetrators are part of a militia comprising Fulani herders and hunters, who are reportedly well-armed and highly mobile, often striking under the cover of darkness before disappearing into surrounding forests.
Community leaders and residents have issued urgent appeals to both State and Federal governments to intervene and restore peace to Edo central..
“We are tired of promises. What we need now is action,” said another resident. “Our communities are under siege.”
The growing frustration is also beginning to manifest in more confrontational rhetoric from local youths. Warning that their patience is wearing thin, some have begun to consider organising self-defence groups to protect their communities in the absence of effective government response.
“If our elected leaders can’t secure us, we will have no choice but to take matters into our own hands,” a youth leader told Uptown Press Nigeria.
The latest attack is part of a broader pattern of violence that has plagued parts of Edo and other States in Nigeria, where clashes between farming communities and herders have escalated in recent years. Analysts have long warned that without concrete security measures, such conflicts could spiral into wider unrest.
As tension continues to mount in Esanland, the people are left anxiously awaiting decisive action from the authorities—before the situation deteriorates further.
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