A farming community, 2nd Abumere Ojigbelu Camp in Ovia Northeast Local Government Area of Edo State has raised alarm over attacks by suspected herdsmen.
Some members of the community who spoke to journalists from where they have been taken refuge said the herdsmen dressed in military uniform chased them and took over their farms with their cows.
One of the villagers, Mr. Mattu Alli, 51, said they have to run for their lives to avoid being killed by the herdsmen.
Ali who hails from Taraba State said he has been farming in the community in the last 20 years with his family.
“Yesterday, I was in my compound when we started hearing gunshots and when I asked what was happening, they said herdsmen have taken over the village chasing people away from their houses, So I called my wife and we have to run for our lives.
“As I am talking now, I don’t know the whereabouts of my wife and children because we all ran in different directions”.
He called on the state government and security agents to save them from the herdsmen.
Another victim, Mrs Ngozi Chimen, said, the herdsmen often chased them away from the camp during the dry season every year.
“Last year, they came around February but we were surprised to see them on January 2 and they have chased us out from our village, grazing their cows in our farmlands.”
She said the only option for them is to abandon their community.
Also speaking, Ngozi’s husband, Sunday Chimen said when the herdsmen invaded their farms last year, they complained to the security agents but nothing was done about it.
“We are calling on the security agencies to come to our aid because our community is under siege while our crops are being destroyed and used to feed cows.”
When contacted, Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Kotongs Bello, said he has not been briefed on the development.
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