Eben Enasco Reporting..
Suspected Criminal Herders and Kidnappers have Reportedly found comforts in carrying out their unchallenged booming businesses in Edo State.
All thanks, to a new abode of relentless Operations done at the forest reserves in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area and adjoining environs in the Benin- Ekpoma-Auchi High way.
Innocent motorists and commuters in their numbers have become Victims with no one there to salvage a rescue.
Unfriendly perfumes of dead bodies delete the natural ventilation generated through green plants with kidnapping and later death presented to those who are unable to pay ransom.
Souls of generations are lamenting amid tortures melted on them by those Kidnappers who have held them hostage for weeks and unable to pay their way out of the dreaded demands brandished by the Suspected Herders well accompanied by INDIGENOUS Criminals where a government Continue to take home in bullion van enclaves of security votes.
Months upon months, Commuters, Famers and Community settlers are faced with panics and unassured of safety, causing a rise in cost of commodities.
The rising insecurity in Edo State is characterized by kidnapping and killings, with the effect now pulling strings on residents
Activities of kidnappers and killer herdsmen in the last weeks in the State have thrown residents into panics, despite assurances by the government and the state police command that lives and property are now safe.
Could this be a signal that kidnappers have found a way to beat the system, despite several arrests made by the police in recent times?
Or better Still, can we draw the conclusion that, most people arrested are not the real perpetrators?
Could this also mean a consequence of channeling security votes to those assigned with the mandated obligations to combat crimes?
This, seriously raise so many chains of questions in the security architecture offered by government and relevant authorities.
Obviously, While cult-related killings seem to have been curtailed, kidnapping by suspected Fulani herdsmen, who may have been aided by locals, is on the rise.
Recall that, three high profile abductions with one leading to the death of a victim, among many others, sent shock waves round the state with many demanding that drastic steps be taken to halt the ugly trend.
The most unpleasant kidnap tale was that of Prince Dennis Abuda, a United States of America-based Nigerian, who was kidnapped in Ahor, Benin, along with three others on his way back to his base and was killed, because he could not keep up with the pace of his abductors.
In another related development, the Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, was fortunate to workout of kidnappers’ den alive, but his driver and police orderly paid the Supreme price when they were killed during his abduction.
The story of the Edo Immigration Public Relations Officer, Bridget Esene, was also another pathetic one when she was kidnapped by local Criminal Influencers on her way to church, whilst, according to her, she was sold to the Fulani in the forest before she regained her freedom.
Lately and Sad enough, An Architecture graduate of the Ambrose Alli University AAU, Ekpoma, Ella Williams, was reportedly killed by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen along the Benin-Ekpoma expressway.
Ella the Victim, was said to be travelling from Benin City to Ekpoma when the gunmen opened fire on the passenger vehicle she was in, killing her on the spot while other passengers were abducted.
One Asomba Andrew Egbuonu, who confirmed the incident, Monday, said, Ella was on her way to AAU to pick up her call-up letter for the compulsory one year National Youth Service Corps NYSC programme.
Ella Williams who was killed after a stray bullet sprayed sporadically by the villain, is a dot in a cycle in the pool of victims, Considering others who may not have had news mentioned, yet they had been Killed.
Many of Such Ellas, relied on Government to provide templates for security architecture, yet denied of their rights to life.
In recent times, Some residents of Uhunmwonde communities who have become weary of Continued attacks took to the Benin Ekpoma Auchi high way in Edo State to protest against herdsmen invasion of their forests.
In a video seen online, one of the youths of the community said they had gathered to protest against the incessant killings perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen in the area.
He noted that, herdsmen attacks have become more rampant in the community as herders have taken over the highway, shooting without control.
He also explained that, the people of the community live in fear as many have become victims of herdsmen attack.
He called on the governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, the police and other well-meaning individuals to save the people.
According to him, they are powerless, in contrast to the herders who possess arms and ammunition.
In his words: ”We have come here today, not to fight nor for war, we have come in peace. We are not safe again, we can no longer go to the farm for fear of being killed by Fulani herdsmen who have taken over our farms.
”When our people try to go from here to Benin, to purchase items… that is after working here and gathering some amount of money, once they get to the road, Fulani herdsmen will stop them half-way, attack our women, and men take them into the bush, from there, they rape some of them, they kill some, they then ask for ransom.
We have victims that have been made to pay N300, 000; some paid N500, 000. The herders charge us for a ransom of N1,000,000.
How can we pay such an amount? Where do we get such an amount when all we do is farming? Do you know what it takes for a farmer to be able to gather up to N1, 000, 000?
”Right now, we are gathered here because of what happened yesterday.
Some men from Esan who were going to Benin were attacked, one of them was going to buy provisions, he was shot in the hand and died.
”Apart from that, some white men were going to the Owan area, the herders kidnapped the whites, shot some policemen, and many other things happened.
“Fulani herdsmen have decided to stay on the highway, and started shooting sporadically at people, we don’t have any ammunition, we don’t even know how to use it.
We simply want the government to come and rescue us. We don’t want problems, we cannot fight but we will talk to save ourselves.
“We plead with Governor Obaseki and other stakeholders to come to our aid, we don’t steal, we farm with the little we have. We have graduates in this area, we don’t steal, all we do is farm.
Should we be subjected to this? Can’t we talk, they should come and rescue us, we are pleading.”
This is not the only Operations by the restive Criminals they have carried out in that zone.
Seasons of fear seems to have returned despite government assurances to the people of combing Forests as killer herders now parades with guns on highways as those assigned by the authority to monitor Criminal advancement without daring altercations on the side of the Security Operatives
If the people cry for safety must be heard, the authority must rise above all syndics of Criminal proliferating the forest reserves to win the war against it.
