Many residents flee as suspected herdsmen attack Edo community

Two weeks after suspected herdsmen killed three people in Sobe, Owan West Local Government Area of Edo, the herders returned to the community, where they injured one person and kidnapped a child.

The attack, it was gathered, happened on Tuesday night as many residents of the community were said to have fled their homes for safety somewhere else.

The attack, the villagers said was the sixth of its kind since January this year.

When the herders struck two weeks ago, a pastor and two other farm hands were killed in the agrarian community.

In the latest attack, it was further gathered that a barber, called Monday, was attacked with a machete and left for dead by his assailants.

Some brave villagers were said to have quickly risen to the rescue of the victim and taken him to a hospital, where he is recovering from his wounds.

“It is yet another tragic moment for the people of Sobe community as suspected herdsmen invaded the community again on Tuesday.

“A barber called Monday and his family were attacked in their own house in the night.

“The herdsmen laid ambush until Monday came home and when they sighted him, they macheted him and left him in the pool of his blood. The invaders also kidnapped one of Monday’s children and stole other valuables.

“The victim was taken to the community health centre where he received treatment and is in a stable condition. But the herders are yet to reach the family of the kidnapped boy.

“The herdsmen then entered some part of the community and started looking for vulnerable victims. We hereby call on the Nigerian Police Sobe Division and all other Forces to please come to our aid,” the source, who pleaded anonymity explained.

When contacted, the Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Chidi Nwabuzor, said that he was yet to get the details of the incident.  (Nigerian Tribune)