By DADA AYOKHAI
Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have killed a middle-age man, Mr Danjuma Emokpaire at his farm on Friday, March 8, 2024.
It was gathered that the incident occurred at Ubuneke-Ivbiaro community in Owan-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Locals who spoke 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 him going to farm on the unfortunate day, added that he said he was going to plant yam seedlings.
He added that they were worried when in early morning on Saturday (today) he was not seen at home.
According to him, yesterday evening there was heavy rainfall to late night, so it wasn’t possible for people to know whether he returned back from the farm or not.
“But 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 him. Unfortunately, behold what was seen was unexpected.
“We found him dead. What we see around the scene of the incident indicated that he was attack and kill while on motorcycle. There was no sign that there was confrontation between him and those that killed him.
“The motorbike was damaged, cutlass and mobile phone cell were taken away by the murderer”, he said.
He said, that the incident has been reported to the Afuze Divisional Police and some officers were sent to the community who went with them to the farm.
Also speaking, a member of vigilante group in the community, Abdul Saliu Emokpaire said they corpse have been 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 community have been gripped with fears, as the people are now afraid to go to farm for fear of being attacked by herdsmen.
