Panic Grips Residents As Suspected Herdsmen Kill Farmer In Edo

A middle-aged man, Mr Danjuma Emokpaire, has been killed at his farm in Edo State by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.

Daily Post reports that the incident occurred in Ubune-Ivbiaro community, in Owan-East Local Government Area of Edo State, on Friday, March 8, 2024.

Locals who spoke to Daily Post on phone said the deceased was attacked by the armed men while leaving the farm after the day’s work.

The residents, who said they saw the man going to farm on Friday, disclosed that he said he was going to plant yam seedlings.

They added that they were worried when he was not seen at home on Saturday morning.

“This morning, he was not seen around. This prompted some persons to go to his house and found it locked from the front.

“So, we have to mobilize and go to the farm to search for him. Unfortunately, what was seen was unexpected.

“We found him dead. What we see around the scene of the incident indicated that he was attacked and killed while on his motorcycle. There was no sign that there was confrontation between him and those that killed him.

“The motorbike was damaged; his cutlass and mobile phone were taken away by the murderers,” a source in the community said.

He added that the incident had been reported to the Afuze Divisional Police Station.

Also speaking, a member of vigilante group in the community, Abdul Saliu Emokpaire, said the man’s corpse was brought home for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.

Emokpaire, who called on the security agencies and the Edo State Government to come to the aid of the community, noted that the people are now afraid to go to their farms for fear of being attacked by herdsmen.

“We call on security agencies in the state and Governor Godwin Obaseki that we mourning one of our illustrious sons whose life was cut short by evil men who called themselves herdsmen.

“This is farming season, and this is the time the people of the community, who are predominantly farmers, are preparing land for cultivation. Fears have gripped the community. We are now afraid to go to our various farms,” he added.

A senior police officer in the Afuze Divisional Police Headquarters confirmed the incident to DAILY POST.

The officer, who preferred anonymity because he was not authorised to speak with the media, said officers had been drafted to the community.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said he is yet to be briefed about the development.

But said he would bring the information to the attention of the State Commissioner of Police, CP Funsho Adegboye.

DAILY POST recalls that a few years ago, suspected herdsmen raped a married woman in the presence of her husband in the farm.