Militants attack Edo village over alleged missing funds, kill woman, injure residents

Tragedy struck a small village in Esan South Local Government Area of Edo State on February 12, 2024, when a group of armed militants launched a violent attack in what investigators believe was a targeted operation against one Mr. Daniel Ehis Ojienon over alleged missing funds.

According to findings from the Divisional Police Headquarters in Ubiaja, the attackers were searching for Mr. Ojienon, whom they accused of being in possession of their money before a devastating fire at the Ogbema Modular Refinery in Imo State on April 22, 2022.

The motive behind the attack appears to stem from financial disputes connected to that incident.

In the course of the assault, the militants set fire to Mr. Ojienon’s family home, resulting in the death of his mother and injuries to several other villagers who attempted to flee the chaos.

The loss has sent shockwaves through the quiet rural community, which is now gripped by fear and mourning.

Mrs. Winifred Okhuoya, the first daughter of the deceased woman, provided a chilling account to the police.

She disclosed that the same group had previously attacked her brother’s home in Ota, Ogun State, where they beat his pregnant wife in the presence of their two children, leaving her with serious injuries.

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She maintained that her brother had no connection to the money in question and had repeatedly denied possessing it.

Mrs. Okhuoya further recalled an earlier incident in December 2022, when the gang first issued threats in the village, demanding the return of the alleged funds. During that episode, their mother had pleaded with her son to return any property that might belong to the gang, but Mr. Ojienon stood firm, saying he had no such money and would gladly surrender it if he did, to protect his family.

In response to the violent assault, the Edo State Police Command has launched a manhunt for the suspects.

Authorities have promised swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore a sense of safety in the community.

“We are treating this as a case of premeditated murder, arson, and grievous bodily harm,” a spokesperson for the police stated. “No one is above the law, and we will ensure that the individuals responsible for this heinous crime are apprehended and prosecuted.”

The attack has raised serious concerns about interstate criminal operations, as the gang appears to have trailed their target across state lines, from Imo to Ogun and then Edo.

Residents are calling for increased security and swift government intervention to prevent further violence.