In Edo State Fulani herdsmen rape, kill two married women

Two married women in two communities killed this morning in their farms in Ewu by suspected Fulani herdsmen who raped them and murdered them in the bush.

Ewu is the second largest community, after Irrua, in Esan Central LGA of Edo State. It is a growing industrial and commercial city which hosts one of the biggest production factories in Edo State, the Bendel Feed and Flour Mills Ltd. It is the home town of Pastor Chris Oyakhilomen of Christ Embassy.

Bendel Feed and Flour Mills Ltd, Ewu.

Our Sources correspondent at Ewu reports that as at  7.00pm this evening detachments of Mobile Policemen and Policemen have arrived at Idunwele Ewu and Agua Irrua to protect the Fulani dwellers there against possible reprisals while a detachment is in the bush removing the corpse of an aged women and a middle aged woman, both of whom were murdered by the Fulanis this morning at Idunwele and Uzogholo communities of Ewu, an otherwise peaceful and hospitable people.

Former Councillor in Ewu and community leader and farmer, Hon Peter Oboh, confirmed the report, as well as our reporter on the ground.

When contacted for comment, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer could not confirm the report as he said he was not at the office and didn’t have the contacts of the Police DPO of the area but promised to confirm tomorrow when he is back to the office.

Investigation revealed that the Fulani herdsmen arrived in Esanland  through the Onojie of Irrua, who is a Muslim and own cattle which the herdsmen helps him to manage. 

The Onojie of Irrua gave them a parcel of land  for they to build a cattle market at Agua, Irrua, a boundary town with Ewu.

From Agua, Irrua, the cattle dealers had a deal with former Military Pensions boss in the Abdulsalam regime, Real Admiral Peter Ebhalemen, who himself is said to own several cattle which the herdsmen manage for him.

Another owner of the cattle which the Fulani herdsmen help to manage is said to be the Vice President of the Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Onojie of Opoji.

There are other high ranking personalities in Esanland who are said to own the cattle that the herdsmen manage at both Agua and Idunwele, and this, some members of the community say, emboldened the herdmen to clash with the men, abuse the women and now rape and kill them with reckless abandon and be protected by the Police.

Meanwhile, youths of the community are enraged and are currently in meetings to decide on the best response to this communal assault.

Some youths who spoke to Urhokpota Reporters said that this assault shall be greeted with “superior and opposite reaction to send the right message to the Fulani herdsmen”.

HRH Zaiki Rasaki Ojiefoh III, Onojie of Ewu

As at the time of filing in this report, the Onojie of Ewu, HRH Zaiki Rasaki Ojiefoh III, a lawyer, Muslim and peace builder, could not be reached for comment