One dead as soldiers, vigilante group clash over arrest of armed herdsmen in Edo community

Tragedy struck in Obadolovbiyeyi community in the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State when a vigilante, Efe Igbnovia, was shot dead by some soldiers.

It was gathered that a local vigilance group had in the early hours of Wednesday arrested some suspected herdsmen for alleged armed robbery on the Benin-Abraka Expressway.

Igbinovia was said to have been asked to watch over the suspects while his colleagues conducted a search for the fleeing members of the gang.

It was learnt that a group of soldiers stormed the area and fired continuously.

It was also learnt that the military men, who were said to have arrived in the community in a Honda with the number plate, AP 641 KTN, shot Igbinovia dead and freed the suspects.

Some angry youths reportedly blocked the path of a commercial bus conveying two of the herdsmen earlier arrested to the Benin Central Hospital for medical treatment before the intervention of personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

One of the youths, Henry Osemwengie, said the vigilance group had earlier arrested six herdsmen for robbery and taken them to the Ogbekun Police Station.

Osemwengie said, “Two other herdsmen, suspected to be members of the gang, were later caught. Igbinovia was asked to stay with them. Before then, the police had been called to come to pick them (herdsmen) because that is what we usually do. Suddenly, a red Honda car with about four men in military uniforms and armed with AK-47 rifles came and started shooting.

“Igbinovia shouted that he had been hit. By the time the other vigilantes returned, he was already down. The soldiers killed him and went away with the two robbers. Robbers, most of whom are Hausas, usually operate there. They keep their cows by the roadside, block the road and start robbing.”

(Credit: Punch)