The camp housing some Fulani herdsmen in Okada community in Ovia North East local government area of Edo State has been razed following the killing of a 64-year farmer, identified as Alex.
However, all the inhabitants of the camp have fled to an unknown destination with their cattle before the unidentified persons razed the camp.
Alex was found brutally murdered in a bush near his farm.
A search party, led by his younger brother, discovered the body after he failed to return home.
His neck was sliced, stabbed in the stomach and had several machete cuts all over his body.
The wife of late Alex, Margaret, accused the Fulani herdsmen, saying her husband has been complaining about their activities on his farm.
According to her, “They have killed my husband and left me to care for the children. The people that went there said they saw the Fulani people sandals in the place.”
A youth in the community, who said that he followed policemen to the scene, said, “I followed the policemen and the family to the scene. There were cuts all over his body. They cut his neck and stabbed him in the stomach. What I saw made me sick.”
The youth said they went to the Fulani camp and discovered that all the inhabitants have disappeared.
Confirming the killing, Hon Omosede Igbinedion, the member representing Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, described the killing as “another tragedy that has become a common occurrence in today’s Nigeria.”
Omosede, who hails from Okada community, urged the state Commissioner of Police to carry out an immediate full scale investigation, with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book and make them face the wrath of the law.
According to her, “I received with both shock and horror, the dastardly act perpetrated by someone who can only be described as “barbaric, inhumane and animalistic”.
“We will not sit back and allow this to continue. I will bring the attention of the Federal Government to this gruesome murder which was allegedly carried out by ‘Fulani Herdsmen’.”
“It is expected that these herdsmen co-exist with the indigenous people of Okada and Ovia in a dignified manner. They have no right over another man’s farmland, furthermore killing a man in cold blood.”
“Every citizen of Nigeria should feel protected under the law. My heart goes out to the family of the deceased. I can only imagine what they must be going through at this moment in time.”
Edo police spokesman, DSP Abiodun Osifo, said he was yet to be fully briefed on the matter.
No comments:
Post a Comment