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From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
At least one person has been killed and others injured in Ukhun community in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
This was made known in a one-minute, 30-second video currently circulating on social media platforms.
According to the voice in the video: “Situation report, situation report. This is Ukhun Community in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State. We are under attack, Ukhun Kingdom is under attack. We are under attack right now, the Fulani herdsmen, they have blocked the road.
“They killed Mr. Dan, an Igbira man living in Ukhun in the bush this morning and we are still looking for some people now in the bush. We are under attack.
“To whom it may concern, we need government’s support, we need rescue. We need to be rescued from this mayhem. Please, anyone that is so concerned about this, we are reporting live from Ukhun, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State. Please, this is a situation report,” the one-minute, 30-second video said.
It was reported that the suspected herders attacked some indigenous people, predominantly farmers, on their way to their farms.
The herders reportedly attempted to kidnap them en route to their respective farms, but the farmers managed to escape through what was described as divine intervention.
Other farmers, apparently unaware of the herders’ activities while working on their farms, came under attack as the assailants opened fire on them, killing one farmer named Mr. Daniel in the process.
Incidents of kidnapping and killing have become rife in the agrarian community, prompting calls for security agencies and the government to rid the forests of unauthorised occupants.
According to residents of Ukhun, this is one incident too many that has occurred in the community over the last two years.
They said that just last month, in February 2025 to be precise, one Mallam Bello Obadan was macheted and kidnapped on his way to the farm.
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He was said to have suffered severe and deep cuts to his nose and other parts of his body, leading to a loss of strength before collapsing while his assailants were taking him to their camp.
Leaving him for dead, the villagers reported, the attackers abandoned him to his fate. However, Mallam Bello was miraculously rescued from this dire situation. He spent a fortune in hospital after being admitted for three months.
Reacting to the video, Mr. Alex Eguakhide, Chief Executive Officer of FECHA Project Ltd, appealed to the state government to rise to the occasion of safeguarding the lives and property of the people of Ukhun community, who are in dire need of protection.
He said the people, who are peasant farmers, can no longer go to their farms for fear of being kidnapped or killed by these suspected herdsmen.
Eguakhide said this ugly incident has made life unbearable for the agrarian community, as they can now barely feed their families.
He noted that nowhere is safe anymore for his people and that something should be done urgently to arrest the situation and bring the invaders to justice.
He also called on the federal government to intervene so that the issue of Fulani herdsmen can become a thing of the past in the country.
The Onojie of Ukhun Kingdom, Zaiki Thomas Aboiralor Omoigiade, appealed to the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo; the Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Betty Nekpen Isokpan Otimenyin; the Director of DSS, Mr. Bello Bakori; the Director of Edo State Security Network, CP Friday Ibadin (Rtd); and the Divisional Police Officer, Ekpoma, to come to their rescue.
“Ukhun is in dire need of government intervention and assistance to protect their lives and property,” Chief Omoigiade said.
When contacted, the Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Moses Joel Yamu, said the command had not been briefed, but he would find out and get back to the reporter.
As of press time, he had yet to respond.
