From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Two residents of Dantata Life Camp in Aviele, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, were reportedly abducted, one was hospitalised, and three others suffered machete wounds when herders invaded the camp at about 8 pm on Sunday.
An eyewitness, who gave his identity simply as Abu, said the killer herdsmen opened fire on the residents in an attempt to kidnap them while they were about to break their fast.
He said one Mutairu Dauda, who defied the attack, was macheted and shot but survived the assault.
‘I can confirm to you that killer herdsmen invaded the Dantata Life Camp in Aviele, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, on Sunday night at about 8 pm.
‘They opened fire on residents. A particular man who stood and fought with them as they were trying to either kill or kidnap him sustained various degrees of machete injury before they also shot him.
‘His wife, daughter, and mother-in-law also suffered machete wounds. Dauda, a furniture maker, is currently at Irrua Specialist Hospital receiving treatment,’ Abu narrated.
It was gathered that the local vigilantes in the area, who went in search of the two abductees, arrested two kidnappers and handed them over to the police.
Some residents of the camp, Abu said, have been forced to abandon their homes after a series of similar attacks by the invaders in the past, adding that they no longer sleep with both eyes closed because of insecurity.
The spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, Moses Yamu, could not be reached at the time of filing this report.