By Akpokona Omafuaire
EDJEKOTA — Tension is mounting in Edjekota Community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, following a series of attacks by suspected armed herdsmen that have left residents living in fear.
The President-General of the community, Pastor Oghenemakpo Uyo, told journalists that the once peaceful agrarian community has come under repeated attacks in recent weeks.
According to him, the latest incident occurred at about 8 p.m. over the weekend when armed men allegedly attacked a resident and his wife along the Oviri-Ogor/Edjekota-Ogor Road.
Uyo said the victim, a father of a three-month-old baby, was returning home after purchasing food for his child when he was accosted by the attackers.
He alleged that the assailants ordered the man to accompany them to an unknown destination. When he refused, they reportedly attacked him with cutlasses and gunfire, inflicting multiple injuries.
“I heard gunshots and immediately alerted the community security outfit to trace the source of the attack. On sighting the vigilantes, the attackers fled into the bush, abandoning a cutlass and a bag containing food items and ammunition,” Uyo said.
The victim, who is currently receiving medical treatment, recounted his ordeal, saying the attackers were armed and spoke the Fulfulde language.
“They asked me to follow them, but I refused. They started attacking me with cutlasses and shot at me several times. God saved my life,” he said.
According to him, the attackers were three in number and escaped into the bush when community vigilantes arrived at the scene.
Uyo further claimed that another group of suspected herdsmen later emerged from the same forest area to purchase food items in the community and were subsequently apprehended and handed over to the Divisional Police Officer of the A Division, Ughelli.
He also alleged that weapons were recovered from the suspects.
Reacting to the development, Hon. Obakpororo Johnny, a former House of Representatives aspirant for the Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency, called on the Delta State and Federal Governments to strengthen security presence in the area.
He urged security agencies to take proactive measures to prevent further attacks and restore confidence among residents.
The recurring attacks have reportedly forced many residents to abandon their farms and restrict their movements due to fears of further violence.
There were also reports that personnel of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited narrowly escaped an ambush by suspected armed herdsmen operating in the area.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Delta State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to the Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, were not answered as of the time of filing this report.
