Terror in the Farmlands: Militant attack leaves dozens dead, communities devastated

A brutal assault on seven farming settlements in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State has left a trail of death and destruction, with reports indicating at least 23 fatalities and numerous injuries. The harrowing incident, which occurred on Friday, February 21st, has displaced hundreds and plunged the once-thriving agrarian communities into chaos.

The targeted settlements—Marindoti, Gbelemontin Domiju, Kola Village, Taiye Camp, Eto Camp, Dipe Community, Bala Dele Community, and Thousand Community—were home to a diverse population of farmers from Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and Benin ethnic backgrounds. Eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture of armed assailants, suspected to be Ijaw militants, unleashing indiscriminate violence, setting homes ablaze, and destroying property.

While police reports confirm seven deaths and six injuries, residents claim the toll is significantly higher, with some reporting as many as 15 fatalities in individual communities. The attack, believed to be a reprisal for the killing of a suspected cocoa thief by local vigilantes, has exacerbated existing tensions between farmers and alleged militants accused of land encroachment and theft.

The devastation is palpable. Homes lie in ruins, and displaced residents, carrying meager belongings, have fled in fear. Igbala Obazuaye, head of Marindoti community, recounted years of extortion and violence, highlighting the breakdown of law and order. Other survivors, like Nafisat Abdulazeez, detailed the sheer terror of the attack, pleading for urgent government intervention.

Despite the police’s assertion of a “communal clash,” residents insist the attack was an unprovoked act of terror aimed at extorting and intimidating peaceful farmers. They have called for increased security presence, including a permanent army base, and assistance in rebuilding their shattered lives.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Betty Enekpen Isokpan Otimenyin, has vowed a thorough investigation, while the deployment of troops from the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army has brought a semblance of calm. However, the deep scars of this tragedy and the urgent need for lasting security and support remain.