Ebedei Community in Delta State experienced serious tension, as Herdsmen heavily armed with AK 47 rifles invaded the village on Tuesday night, and shot sporadically, forcing villagers to flee the community.
The Chairman of the community’s vigilante team, Mr Olise Igbede, said that some indigenes were at the bank of a river at Adonishaka Quarter of the community when 10 herdsmen accosted them about 6.30 p.m.
Disclosing that eight of the herdsmen were armed with AK-47 guns and the other two with cutlasses, he said:
“They were asking our boys if this is Ebedei community and demanded to know why we are against cattle grazing.
“Our boys told them that they did not know what they were talking about and immediately, the herdsmen started beating them with their cutlasses and the boys raised alarm, which attracted other villagers.
“Later, about 7.30 p.m., they started shooting and some of the people, mostly women, started running out of the community to neighbouring towns. Later, the vigilante mobilized and proceeded towards the river.
When the herdsmen saw us coming, they ran away. Five minutes later, they started shooting again and we went to the river and removed the wooden bridge to prevent them from crossing over into the village. Presently, we are still watching the river to avoid any surprises,” he said.
The State Police Commisioner, Mr Andrew Aniamaka, also confirmed the shooting, he said,
“There is perfect calm in Ebeide as I speak to you, even though there was shooting on Tuesday night allegedly by herdsmen.”
According to sources in the community, Herdsmen has been a menace to the community, by destroying farmlands and harassing villagers.
They said the shooting was caused by tension generated at nearby, Mosogar and Jesse Communities, over a heated argument between herdsmen and an indigene of the community, which led to the death of the indigene.
photo credit: bing.com
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