News

Securing Farmers Amidst Rising Attacks In Edo Communities

Published

1 year ago

February 28, 2025

Editor

By Usman Aliyu, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

In Edo, South-South Nigeria, a series of brutal attacks have recently shattered the peace of rural farming communities, leaving behind death, displacement, and despair.

These incidents have not only claimed lives but also exposed the vulnerabilities of these agrarian societies, revealing the need for enhanced security measures.

On the morning of Feb. 21, seven farming settlements in Ovia South-West Local Government Area were attacked by assailants believed to be militants from nearby creeks.

The affected communities—Marindoti, Gbelemontin Domiju, Kola Village, Taiye Camp, Eto Camp, Dipe Community, Baba Dele Community, and Thousand Community—are home to diverse ethnic groups.

They include Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and Benin farmers who primarily cultivate cash crops such as cocoa, kola nut, and palm oil.

The onslaught forced residents to flee en masse, abandoning their homes and livelihoods.

Eyewitness accounts indicated that at least 23 individuals lost their lives, with several others sustaining injuries.

One witness described the attack as a reprisal for the killing of a suspected cocoa thief, allegedly a militant, by local vigilantes hired by the farmers.

This incident escalated existing tensions between the farmers and the alleged militants, who had previously been accused of encroaching on farmland and stealing produce.

However, the Edo State Police Command confirmed only seven deaths and six injuries, stating that preliminary investigations suggested a communal clash.

In a statement on Feb. 23, CSP Moses Yamu, the command’s Public Relations Officer, said operatives from the Iguobazuwa Police Division, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and local vigilantes, had evacuated the casualties to a hospital, where the injured were receiving treatment.

“The joint operation is sustained as the situation has been brought under control and normalcy restored. However, an investigation into the cause of the clash has commenced.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Betty Otimenyin, has vowed that no stone would be left unturned to unravel the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate and avoidable incident,” he said.

Nevertheless, a visit to the scene suggested more severe casualties, as a mass exodus of displaced persons was observed carrying their belongings in search of safer areas.

Fleeing residents

Many homes were reduced to ashes, and the once-thriving farming communities now resembled ghost towns.

Eyewitnesses recounted the horror, describing how the attackers stormed the settlements, fired indiscriminately, torched homes, and destroyed property.

Igbala Obazuaye, head of the Marindoti community, said they had been farming in the area for decades.

However, trouble began in 1998 when some youths started demanding royalties from them.

Albeit paying these levies; ranging from ₦5 million to ₦27 million annually, he said the youths continued to encroach on their farms, steal crops, and even kidnap his people.

Obazuaye, who sustained bullet wounds in the attack, said the assailants invaded the community around 8 a.m., killing seven people in his settlement alone.

According to him, the attackers also burnt cocoa, kola nut, and other cash crops worth more than ₦20 million.

He appealed for military protection, the establishment of a local police station, and assistance in rebuilding their community.

Similarly, Nafisat Abdulazeez, a resident of Dipe community, described the experience as traumatic and called for immediate intervention from Governor Monday Okpebholo.

According to Abdulazeez, no fewer than 15 people were killed in her community, while several others were injured or remain missing.

“They came into our community, shooting and burning houses. They killed 15 people, and many more were injured. They even burnt my house, and my family was forced to flee,” she said.

Fleeing residents

Joseph Otu, a hunter in Marindoti, refuted the police’s claim that the attack was communal, insisting that it was an unprovoked assault by militants seeking to extort and terrorise peaceful farmers.

Otu also urged the authorities to deploy security forces to safeguard the area, stressing that these farming communities contribute greatly to the state’s economy through the cultivation of crops like cocoa, kola nuts, and plantains.

Likewise, Usman Mukaila, another resident of Dipe community, commended the swift deployment of soldiers from the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army under Brig-Gen. Ebenezer Oduyebo.

However, he called for the establishment of a permanent military base in the area.

“We commend the Commander of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Benin, for the immediate intervention and deployment of soldiers.

“That has helped to calm the situation for now. If not for him, the rest of the people would have gone. We also thank the governor.

“We, however, urge him to establish a permanent Army base here. We are crying; we really need his help. You can see all our women and children leaving,” he said.

Surprisingly, just three days after the Ovia attacks, two farmers were killed in Okpekpe, Etsako East Local Government Area, allegedly by suspected herdsmen.

The victims, identified as Batemue Philip Ebo and Christopher Bello, were reportedly attacked on their way to the farm on Feb. 24.

Confirming the incident, CSP Yamu stated that the attack was reported by the Chief of Okpekpe at about 9 a.m.

“The command received a report today at about 0900hrs from the Chief of Okpekpe that two of his subjects were attacked and killed on their farms by suspected herdsmen.

“The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and mobile police officers deployed in Uzanu arrived at the scene and found their lifeless bodies,” Yamu said.

In response to the killings, Yamu stated that the police had reviewed security arrangements in the area to track down the perpetrators and prevent further attacks.

“Security arrangements in the area have been reviewed to go after the criminals and forestall a recurrence,” he added.

The latest attack has heightened concerns over rising insecurity in the state, particularly in farming settlements, where farmers have suffered repeated assaults.

For instance, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo expressed disappointment over the killings.

Burnt vehicle

In a statement, Chris Nehikhare, Publicity Secretary of the party’s Caretaker Committee in the state, challenged the governor to take urgent and decisive steps to curb the situation before it spirals out of control.

Expectedly, the recurring nature of these attacks calls for enhanced security measures, including the establishment of a permanent military base in Marindoti and a general strengthening of the state’s security apparatus.

For example, residents argue that the closest police station, located in Igbobazuwa, is approximately a four-hour journey from Marindoti, making timely intervention during emergencies nearly impossible.

Community leaders have also highlighted the economic impact of insecurity.

The disruption of farming activities threatens food security not only within Edo, but also in other regions that rely on produce from these communities.

Although Gov. Monday Okpebholo has condemned the killings and ordered the immediate deployment of additional security personnel to the affected areas, security analysts argue that this measure alone may not be sufficient.

Instead, they advocate for the establishment of a military base in Marindoti, which they believe would deter potential attackers and enable a swift response to future incidents.

Additionally, stakeholders emphasise that improved infrastructure, such as accessible roads and reliable communication networks would enhance coordination between local communities and security agencies.

They stress that addressing Edo’s security challenges requires a multifaceted approach.

Overall, many emphasise that the state government must not neglect its responsibility to safeguard lives and property, regardless of residents’ ethnicity, gender, or economic status. (NANFeatures)

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Oshiomhole Tells FG To Retaliate Against South African Companies In Nigeria

Published

9 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has called on the Federal Government to retaliate against South African businesses operating in Nigeria following the recent attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

Speaking during plenary on Tuesday, Oshiomhole said the Federal Government should consider revoking the working license of South African owned companies such as MTN and DSTV.

He argued that Nigeria must respond firmly to what he described as persistent hostility against its citizens.

“I am not going to shed tears. If you hit me, I hit you. I think it is appropriate in diplomacy. It is an economic struggle,” Oshiomhole said.

He argued that while some South Africans accuse Nigerians of taking their jobs, Nigerians should return home and take over employment opportunities created by major South African companies operating in the country, including MTN and DSTV.

“When we hit back, the President of South Africa will not only talk but will also go on his knees to recognise that Nigeria cannot be intimidated.

“We will not condone any life being lost. If a crime has been committed under the South African law they have the right to bring any such person to justice, but to kill our people as if we are helpless, we will not allow that,” Oshiomhole added.

DAILY POST reports that several Nigerians in South Africa have reportedly been attacked, and their businesses destroyed, in ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

News

IGP Orders Officers Display Name Tag On Uniform, Gives Update On State Police

Published

9 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Tunji Disu, has ordered all police personnel to always have their name tags on their uniforms for easy identification.

Disu disclosed that only police personnel who are undercover are exempted from displaying their name tags.

Speaking on Tuesday, Disu said: “All police officers should have their name tags. All of us on the high table have our names apart from the undercover among us so if you look at all the Commissioners of Police we have our name tags, so it’s not our standard.

News

Court Orders SERAP To Pay DSS Operatives N100m For Defamation

Published

14 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has ordered a non-governmental organization, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, to pay N100 million as damaged to two operatives of the Department of the State Services, DSS, for unjustly defaming them in some publications.

The court also ordered SERAP to tender public apologies to the defamed officers,
Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, in two national newspapers, two television stations and its website.

Besides, the organization was also ordered to pay the two operatives N1 million as cost of litigation and 10 percent post-judgment interest annually on the judgment sum until it’s fully liquidated.

Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory gave the order on Tuesday while delivering judgment in a N5.5 billion defamation suit instituted against SERAP by the DSS operatives.

The judge found SERAP liable for unjustly defaming the two DSS operatives with allegations that they unlawfully invaded its Abuja office, harassed and intimidated its staff, in September 2024.

In the offending publication on its website and Twitter handle, SERAP alleged that the two operatives unlawfully invaded and occupied its office with sinister motives.

The judge held that the publication was in bad taste especially from an organization established to promote transparency and accountability, as nothing in the publication was found to be truthful.

The DSS staff had listed SERAP as 1st defendant in the suit marked CV/4547/2024. SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, was listed as the 2nd defendant.

In the suit, the claimants – Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele – accused the two defendants of making false claims that they invaded SERAP’s Abuja office on September 9, 2024..

Counsel to the DSS, Oluwagbemileke Samuel Kehinde, had while adopting his final address in the mater urged the judge to grant all the reliefs sought by his client in the interest of justice.

He admitted that although the names of the two claimants were not mentioned in the defamation materials, they had however established substantial circumstances that they are the ones referred to in the published defamation article by SERAP on its website.

The counsel submitted that all ingredients of defamation have been clearly established and the offending publication referred to the two officials of the secret police.

However, SERAP, through its counsel, Victoria Bassey from Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, law firm, asked the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that the two claimants did not establish that they were the ones referred to in the alleged defamation materials.

She said that SERAP used “DSS officials” in the alleged offending publication, adding that the two claimants must establish that they are the ones referred to before their case can succeed.

Similar arguments were canvassed by Oluwatosin Adefioye who stood for the second defendant, adding that there was no dispute in the September 9, 2024 operation of DSS in SERAP’s office.

He said that since SERAP in the publication did not name any particular person, the claimants must plead special circumstances that they were the ones referred to as the DSS officials.

Besides, he said that there is no organization by name Department of State Services in law, hence, DSS cannot claim being defamed adding that the only entity known to law is National Security Agency.

The claimants had in the suit stated that the alleged false claim by SERAP has negatively impacted on their reputation.

The DSS also stated, in the statement of claim, that, in line with the agency’s practice of engaging with officials of non-governmental organisations operating in the FCT to establish a relationship with their new leadership, it directed the two officials – John and Ogunleye – to visit SERAP’s office and invite them for a familiarization meeting.

The claimants added that in carrying out the directive, John and Ogunleye paid a friendly visit to SERAP’s office at 18 Bamako Street, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja on September 9 and met with one Ruth, who upon being informed about the purpose of the visit, claimed that none of SERAP’s management staff was in the country and advised that a formal letter of invitation be written by the DSS.

John and Ogundele, who claimed that their interactions with Ruth were recorded, said before they immediately exited SERAP’s office, Ruth promised to inform her organisation’s management about the visit and volunteered a phone number – 08160537202.

They said it was surprising that, shortly after their visit, SERAP posted on its X (Twitter) handle – @SERAPNigeria – that officers of the DSS are presently unlawfully occupying its office.

The claimant added, “On the same day, the defendants also published a statement on SERAP’s website, which was widely reported by several media outfits, falsely alleging that some officers from the DSS, described as “a tall, large, dark-skinned woman” and “a slim, dark skinned man,” invaded their Abuja office and interrogated the staff of the first defendant (SERAP).

John and Ogundele stated that “due to the false statements published by the defendants, the DSS has been ridiculed and criticised by international agencies such as the Amnesty International and prominent members of the Nigerian society, such as Femi Falana (SAN)”.

“Due to the false statements published by the defendants, members of the public and the international community formed the opinion that the Federal Government is using the DSS to harass the defendants.”

They added that the defendants’ statements caused harm to their reputation because the staff and management of the DSS have formed the opinion that the claimants did not follow orders and carried out an unsanctioned operation and are therefore, incompetent and unprofessional.

The claimants therefore prayed the court for the following reliefs: “An order directing the defendants to tender an apology to the claimants via the first defendant’s (SERAP’s) website, X (twitter) handle, two national daily newspapers (Punch and Vanguard) and two national news television stations (Arise Television and Channels Television) for falsely accusing the claimants of unlawfully invading the first defendant’s office and interrogating the first defendant’s staff.

“An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N5 billion as damages for the libellous statements published about the claimants.

“Interest on the sum of N5b at the rate of 10 percent per annum from the date of judgment until the judgment sum is realised or liquidated.

“An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N50 million as costs of this action.”