Gunmen have reportedly killed a high-ranking palace chief in Iduah Kingdom, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Chief Jimah Jacob Ogboi, and abducted his two daughters.
The attackers were said to have struck on Monday night, shooting the chief dead and attacking his wife with machetes and other dangerous weapons.
One of the deceased’s sons, Lucky, said he was away when the incident happened.
“I had stepped out to buy something when I was called and informed that my father had been killed. When I returned, I met my mother seriously injured,” he said.
Community elders reportedly convened an emergency meeting to deliberate on efforts to rescue the abducted daughters and address the cause of the attack.
The traditional ruler of the community, HRH Alhaji Amedu Momoh, appealed to the state government and security agencies for urgent intervention.
“About four of them went to the house of one of our chiefs. They shot him and went away with two of the daughters. Nigerian and other security agencies have come here since the incident happened. We need assistance in tackling insecurity issue. Government should come and assist us. There has been some sort of security here in our land but it’s like they have gone to reinforce,” he said.
He added that the community was unhappy with the growing menace of suspected herdsmen’s attacks on farmlands.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, Eno Ikoedem, said investigations had commenced.
“I can confirm the incident and the CP and other top officers of the command [are working] to halt incidents like this. For this killing and abduction, the police have launched an investigation,” she said, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, is currently in Ekpoma with other senior officers to curb further attacks.
