Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
At least one person has been reportedly killed and others injured in Ukhun community in Esan West, Local Government Area of Edo state by suspected Fulani herdsmen
This was made known in a one minute 30 seconds video currently making the rounds on social media platform.
According to the voice on the video”Situation report, situation report. This is Ukhun Community in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State. We are under attack , Ukhun Kingdom is under attack . We are under attack right now, the Fulani herdsmen, they have blocked the road.
“They killed Mr. Dan, an Igbira man living in Ukhun in the bush this morning and we are still looking for some people now in the bush. We are under attack .
“To whom it may concern, we need governments support, we need rescue. We need to be rescued from this mayhem. Please, anyone that is so concerned about this, we are reporting live from Ukhun , Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State. Please, this is a situation report”, the one minute 30 seconds video said.
They said the suspected herders were said to have attacked some of the indigenous people who are predominantly farmers on the way to their farms.
The herders, it was reported made attempts to kidnap them on their way to their respective farms, but the farmers managed to escape through divine intervention.
Other farmers apparently oblivious of the activities of the herders while working in their farms came under attack as the terrorists opened fire on them, killing one of the farmers named Mr Daniel in the process.
Incidences of kidnapping and killing have become rife in the agrarian community necessitating calls on security agencies and government to rid our forests of unauthorized occupants.
According to residents of Ukhun, this is one incident too many that have occurred in the community in the last two years.
They said that just last month, February 2025 to be precised, one Mallam Bello Obadan was macheted and kidnapped on his way to the farm.
He was said to have suffered severe and deep cuts on his nose and other parts of of his body leading to loss of strength before collapsing while the assistants were taking him to their camp.
Leaving him for dead, the villagers reported, the felons abandoned him to his fate. However, Mallam Bello was miraculously rescued from this cruel situation. He spent fortunes in the hospital after being in admission for three months.
Reacting to the video, Mr. Alex Eguakhide, Chief Executive Officer of FECHA Project Ltd, appealed to the state government to rise up to the occasion of safeguarding lives and property of the people of Ukhun Community who are in dire need of protections.
He said the people who are peasant farmers can no longer go to their farms because of fear of being kidnapped or killed by these suspected herdsmen.
Eguakhide said this ugly incident has made life unbearable for the agrarian community as they can now barely feed their families.
He noted that nowhere is safe anymore for his people and that something should be done urgently to arrest the situation and bring the invaders to book.
He also called on the federal government to intervene so that the issues of Fulani herdsmen can be a thing of the past in the country.
On the part of the Onojie of Ukhun kingdom; Zaiki Thomas Aboiralor Omoigiade he appealed to the State Governor Monday Okpebholo, the Commissioner of Police Mrs Betty Nekpen Isokpan Otimenyin, Director DSS, Mr Bello Bakori, Director of Edo state Security Network, CP Friday Ibadin (Rtd) and the Divisional Police Officer, Ekpoma to come to their rescue.
“Ukhun is in dire need of government intervention and assistance to protect their lives and property”, Chief Omoigiade said
Contacting the Edo State Police command Public Relations Officer, Moses Joel Yamu, he said the command has not been briefed but he would find out and get back to the reporter.
However, as at press time, he was yet to get back.