Residents of Elelu village in Erah community, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, have taken a bold stance against the alleged incessant killings and kidnappings by suspected herdsmen, banning the sale and consumption of beef in their community.
The decision was made during a protest on Saturday, where residents, including young and old, gathered to mourn and honor the lives of their fallen heroes killed by suspected kidnappers.
Fred Enaikhe Aleburu, spokesperson for the Concerned Community Leaders, Youth Representatives, and Vigilante Leaders, lamented the loss of seven community members in the past two weeks, including Edekin Ighalo, Abdullahi, and Victor Ogedengbe, a Vigilante commander.
“These courageous men stood against armed herdsmen who had brought terror to our peaceful land. They shielded our mothers, our children, and our farmlands, and for their sacrifice, they were murdered in cold blood,” Aleburu said.
The community demanded immediate action from the government, including the establishment of permanent security checkpoints, a full-scale investigation, and comprehensive flushing of forests to root out terrorist elements.
“We are not just protesting insecurity; we are protesting a deliberate war on our survival. This is a slow genocide,” Aleburu emphasized.
The community also called for emergency intervention to address food insecurity, support for displaced farmers, and restoration of safe farming activities.
Chief Julius Unuigbe alleged that herdsmen had invaded their bushes, leaving residents in constant fear. Joseph Edairu, a protester, shared his personal experience of losing family members and friends to kidnappings.
Mrs. Eunice Ighalo expressed the community’s desperation, stating that they could no longer farm or access rivers, leading to hunger and poverty.
Blessing Ogedegbe, wife of the late Victor Ogedenge, appealed to the state government to provide her with a job to cater for her children, as her husband’s corpse remains in the mortuary since February 2025.
The community vowed to take their protest to the Edo State Government House if their demands are not met, insisting that their lives are not negotiable.
