Worry, anxiety and fear have overwhelmed indigenes of Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, as five persons have been reported kidnapped by suspected criminal Fulani herdsmen.
The herdsmen have also taken over the different farm routes and roads in the community.
This is coming barely one week after a group from the area – Okpameri Descendants Union (ODU) – condemned what it described as, a renewed onslaught by suspected kidnappers and bandits masquerading as herdsmen on Igarra/Ibillo Road especially, around the Uneme-Nekhua – Ayetoro/Ogbe – Okpameri Junction axis of the road.
The abductors have made a demand for N12m as ransom for one of the kidnapped victims.
Four persons were reported kidnapped on Wednesday while one was abducted on Tuesday.
Speaking on the incident, a top commander of the Vigilante Group said they have been combing the forests in the area.
The vigilante commander said: “They are just picking people everywhere, especially, around Farm Road behind the Technical College hostel and behind the Gloryland School in Igarra.
“They kidnapped four people yesterday (Wednesday) and then one the day before. They contacted one of the families of the victims and they asked for N12m. They have called only once and since then, they have not called till now”.
The vigilante commander said some persons were abducted a week earlier and one life was lost.
“About a week ago, they kidnapped four people near Aiyegunle, where they killed one person and before then, they also kidnaped one person in the same Farm Road and they collected N1m before he was released; and from the testimonies of the victims, they said they are Fulani boys.”
When contacted, the traditional ruler of Igarra/Akuku Clan, HRH, Oba Adeche Saiki JP, the Otaru of Igarra called on the state government to enforce the ban on open grazing in the state which has been passed into law.
Also, efforts to reach the Edo State Police Command did not succeed as several calls to the police public relations officer, Chidi Nwabuzor were not picked and he did not also return calls.
