Gunmen Assault Edo Community, Claiming One Life And Setting Properties On Fire

Gunmen Assault Edo Community, Claiming One Life And Setting Properties On Fire

Reported on May 14, 2024, at 6:24 AM by Noah Abdulsalam

Suspected ethnic militia raided the Imariogha community in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State, resulting in the tragic death of one individual and extensive damage to numerous houses and vehicles…..read also Gunmen Resume Attacks, Resulting In The Deaths Of Three Police Officers And One FRSC Personnel In Enugu State

The assault, which occurred on Sunday night, has been verified by Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye.

According to reports from Dailypost, the assailants, identifying themselves as Ijaw freedom fighters, launched the attack from the riverside, engaging in indiscriminate shooting.

Naija News reports that the violence not only claimed a life but also saw the assailants leaving a note with demands addressed to Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Okomu Oil Company on the deceased’s chest.

An anonymous local source disclosed that the demands included a directorship position at Okomu Oil Palm Plc and a 25% share in the company. The gunmen clarified that their dispute was with the Okomu Oil Company and not with security personnel.

During the raid, Pa Gabriel Okorugbe, a respected community chief, sustained machete injuries and was subsequently hospitalized.

Situated near the Okomu oil palm plantation, the community faced significant disruption as multiple vehicles and properties were set ablaze by the attackers.

Commissioner Adegboye affirmed that a team of security personnel has been dispatched to the community to restore order and address the security crisis. He stated, “We are already holding talks in partnership with sister security organizations and the Okomu oil palm company to arrest the situation.”

This incident follows the killing of three employees of the Okomu Oil Company last week while on duty at the plantation, underscoring a concerning trend of targeted violence in the area.

Local authorities and security forces are actively working to stabilize the situation and prevent further attacks.