:
By DADA AYOKHAI
The alarming surge of brutal killings in Etsako and its environs has sparked a wave of outrage and condemnation from various quarters.
In response to this chilling trend, two esteemed sons of Etsako have raised their voices, urgently calling upon both the state governor and security agencies to take decisive action to halt the escalating violence and bring the perpetrators of these odious acts to justice.
Adding their pleas to the growing chorus, Barrister Rasak Isenalumbe, President of the Anwain Progressive Union, along with Honorable Marvellous Zibiri, the beleaguered chairman of the Etsako West council area, implored the state government and security forces to intensify their efforts to combat the brutal killings plaguing the Anwain community.
Hon Zibiri’s Anwain ancestry further amplifies the urgency of his concerns
Both leaders shared their profound concerns and disquiet about the grim reality facing their community, each articulating their frustrations in their poignant ways.
While it remains unclear which group may be orchestrating these horrific killings in the Anwain community, suspicions have increasingly fallen on Fulani herdsmen, especially in light of their alleged involvement in the tragic murders of Mr Lucky Salami and Julius Arewa, as well as other casualties recorded in Eware village, Ward 8, Anwain.
These tragic events in Anwain come alarmingly on the heels of similar killings a week prior in the Okpekpe community, located within the Etsako East council area.
In a statement he issued to condemn the brutal killings, Bar Isenalumhe, a former Edo State branch chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, urged the state government and security forces to wade in and stem the tide, citing the alarming reports of Fulani herdsmen invading the Anwain clan over the past fortnight.
He described the harrowing scenes of destroyed crops, alongside incidents of death and injury inflicted upon the innocent residents of the community, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention.
Bar Isenalumhe passionately voiced his concerns, referencing two horrific murders and the brutal assaults on innocent citizens of Anwain to emphasize the urgent need for immediate action to curb this alarming trend.
He recounted the chilling details of a farmer’s brutal slaying on February 13, a life extinguished under the cruel hand of violence, as well as an assault that left another farmer maimed on his land in the tranquil village of Iyoba.
Just two weeks later, on February 27, horror-struck again: another farmer met a tragic fate while tending to his crops in Eware village, nestled within the Anwain clan, a place that should have been peaceful and safe.
Faced with this escalating crisis, Isenalumhe felt compelled to pen letters to the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the state governor, issuing an urgent warning about the alarming decline in security throughout the clan.
He fervently called for prompt and decisive action to restore safety and order.
Tragically, the situation has spiralled further out of control, culminating in the heart-wrenching loss of two more Anwain citizens and the harrowing abduction of another individual.
That person, sadly, endured a tormenting two weeks in captivity before finally regaining his freedom from his captors.
In a heartfelt response, Hon Zibiri expressed profound sorrow and outrage over the relentless killings.
Through his Press Secretary, he condemned the violence, labelling the recent killings as “barbaric and unacceptable.”
He noted that these heinous acts undermine the collective efforts of community stakeholders who have worked so diligently to foster a sense of peace and security in the region.
Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, Hon Zibiri declared that the local government would not tolerate any form of violence or lawlessness that endangers the lives and livelihoods of the community members.
He extended his deepest condolences to the grieving families who have lost loved ones to these senseless acts and called upon the state government and security agencies to swiftly investigate the murders and ensure that those responsible face justice.
He underscored the urgent need for an enhanced security presence, particularly in rural areas, to safeguard farmers and prevent further acts of violence or retaliation.
He articulated the critical importance of farming as the backbone of the local economy and warned that disrupting farmers’ access to their lands could spell disaster for the community’s wellbeing.
