Fatshimetrie’s investigation has revealed a horrific attack by bandits on the community formerly known as AT&P, located in the Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. This sad news was confirmed by the Commissioner of Police of Edo, Funsho Adegboye, during a telephone interview with Fatshimetrie in Benin.
Residents experienced a nightmare when the attackers burst into the community in the middle of the night, shooting indiscriminately and setting fire to around ten private vehicles, in addition to destroying many houses. Amidst this chaos, one person lost his life and a community notable, Pa Gabriel Okorugbe, was injured in the attack and had to be hospitalized. The testimonies from residents are chilling, describing scenes of violence and destruction that have left the community in shock.
One of the community leaders, Rex Akpokiniovo, shared with Fatshimetrie the story of that harrowing night, mentioning that the attackers introduced themselves as the “Ijaw Freedom Fighters” and left a note on the victim’s body, addressed to the governor. Godwin Obaseki. In this note, they made several demands against the company Okomu Oil Palm Plc, leaving a climate of fear and uncertainty in the community.
Faced with this tragedy, local authorities and security forces have promised to take measures to restore peace and hunt down those responsible for this cowardly attack. Residents now find themselves in a situation of vulnerability and anxiety, fearing other incidents of this kind in the future.
This violent attack also highlighted the tensions that persist in parts of Nigeria, jeopardizing the security and well-being of local communities. It is imperative that concrete measures be taken to ensure the protection of citizens and restore confidence in the social fabric.
In these dark times, solidarity and support from all are essential so that the community can recover from this tragedy and rebuild itself. It is crucial that light is shed on this heinous attack and that justice is served to the victims. Peace and security must be top priorities to ensure a better future for all people in Nigeria.