The intractable insecurity in Edo State has claimed yet another casualty with the killing on Monday night of a high-ranking palace chief in Iduah kingdom, Esan West local government area, Jimah Jacob Ogboi by some vicious gunmen who also kidnapped his two daughters and left his wife severely injured.
One of his sons, Lucky, was however lucky not to be at home at the time of the invasion as he said he had stepped out to buy something. It was gathered that the gun men invaded the home of the deceased on Monday night, shot him, and mauled his wife with dangerous weapons. Lucky said he was called that his father had been killed and he returned to find his mother seriously injured.
Following the development, the community’s elders were said to have called an emergency meeting to discuss how to secure the release of the two daughters as well as address the root cause of the attack. The traditional ruler of the community, HRH Alhaji Amedu Momoh, appealed to the state government and security agencies to urgently come to their aid and strengthen security in the area.
“About four of them went to the house of one of our chiefs. They shot him and went away with two of the daughters. Nigerians and other security agencies have come here since the incident happened. We need assistance in tackling insecurity issue. Government should come and assist us. There has been some sort of security here in our land but it’s like they have gone to reinforce.
He said they were not happy with the growing menace of suspected herdsmen’s attacks on their farmland. Confirming the incident, the police public relations officer (PPRO) of the Edo State Police Command, Eno Ikoedem confirmed the incident and said the police had launched an investigation.
Ikoedem, an assistant superintendent of police, (ASP) noted that the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, was on ground in Ekpoma, Edo West local government area, with other top brass of the command with a view to prevent a reoccurrence.
She said, “I can confirm the incident, and the CP and other top officers of the command are currently in Ekpoma to halt incidents like this. For this killing and abduction, the Police have launched an investigation”.