Suspected ethnic militias sack Edo riverine community, kill one, raze houses, vehicles

By Jethro Ibileke

The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, has confirmed the invasion of Imariogha Community, a riverine community in Ovia South West Local Government of the state by suspected ethnic militias.

Imariogha is a riverine community closed to Okomu Oil Palm plantation.

The attackers who allegedly referred to themselves as Ijaw freedom fighters, reportedly killed one person and set houses and vehicles ablaze during the night invasion.

It was gathered that the gunmen entered the community through the riverside and started sporadic shooting, resulting in the death of the victim.

One of the chiefs of the community, Pa Gabriel Okorugbe, who reportedly received machete cuts, is presently hospitalized.

It was further gathering that the rampaging gunmen who left a note containing their demands on the chest of the victim, made it clear that they are not fighting security personnel but Okomu Oil Company.

A source in the community who did not want his name mentioned, disclosed that the note was addressed to the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and Okomu oil palm company.

According to the source, amongst other things, the attackers demanded that the management of Okomu Oil Palm Company, appoints one of their indigenes into the position of a director in the company, as well as allocate 25 per cent of the company’s shares to them.

Adegboye, while confirming the incident to journalists, disclosed that a team of security operatives had since been deployed to the affected community.

“We are already holding talks in partnership with sister security organisations and Okomu oil palm company to arrest the situation,” Adegboye said.