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Kidnapping, Killings of Kinsmen by Herdsmen, Edo Community Bans Sale, Consumption of Beef
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Residents of Elelu village in Erah community in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State have banned the sale and consumption of beef following the alleged incessant kidnapping and killings of their kinsmen by suspected herdsmen.
The residents disclosed this during a protest at the community at the weekend.
The protesters made up of both young and old, also threatened to relocate to Edo State Government House for alternative shelter if the State government does not urgently come to their aid as the community is no longer inhabitable.
The residents in their large numbers with belongings on their heads, however, called on the state government to come to their rescue from the hands of suspected herdsmen who have continuously invaded their farmlands and kidnapped their fathers, husbands and children.
They alleged that in the last two weeks, about seven persons in the community have been kidnapped and killed.
Speaking, the concerned community leaders, youth representatives and vigilante leaders said the protest was also to mourn and honour the lives of their fallen heroes killed by suspected kidnappers.
The spokesperson of the group, Fred Enaikhe Aleburu gave the names of the fallen heroes such as Edekin Ighalo, Abdullahi and Victor Ogedengbe, a Vigilante commander.
Aleburu said the deceased lost their lives defending the community.
According to him, these courageous men stood against armed herdsmen who brought terror to the peaceful land.
“They shielded our mothers, our children, and our farmlands and for their sacrifice, they were murdered in cold blood.
“As we speak, the body of Victor Ogedengbe still lies in the mortuary. Yet the violence continues.
“In just the past two weeks, seven of our children have been kidnapped, with one still in captivity as we speak.
“Our forests have been turned into den of terror, criminal strongholds where ransom is demanded and innocent victims are kept under inhumane conditions.
“Our mothers can no longer go to the farm. Our youth are hunted. Our elderly live in fear. The lands that once sustained us now lie in waste and silence.
“This is not just insecurity, this is a deliberate war on our survival. This is a slow genocide.
“We are also here to protest hunger. Our people now suffer because they cannot farm. Our markets are empty. Our homes are filled with helplessness.
“What was once a self-sufficient and productive community is now battling starvation and fear.
“And so, today, we rise to say with one voice that ‘Enough Is Enough,’” he lamented.
He, however, called on the government to fulfil its constitutional duty to protect its citizens.
Aleburu said the community demanded immediate establishment of permanent security checkpoints on all roads and entry points leading into and out of Erah.
They also demanded a full-scale investigation and comprehensive flushing of forests to root out and eliminate all alleged terrorist elements hiding within the community.
“A sustained and visible security presence across our villages, to ensure long-term peace and protection.
“Emergency intervention to address food insecurity, including support for displaced farmers and restoration of safe farming activities.
“If our villages are no longer safe, we will sleep at the doorstep of leadership until we are heard and protected. Our lives are not negotiable.
“Furthermore, as a solemn response to our collective suffering and to honor our fallen defenders, the people of Erah hereby declare a permanent ban on the consumption and the sale of beef in our community.
“The killer herdsmen who hide behind cattle have taken too much from us. Our lives, our food, our peace. We will not continue to support a system built on our blood and tears,” he stated.
Also speaking, Chief Julius Unuigbe alleged that herdsmen have invaded their bushes looking for people to kidnap or kill.
Unuigbe said the people no longer sleep with their eyes closed.On his part, Joseph Edairu, one of the protesters lamented that one of his senior brothers, his friend’s two sisters and a Taraba man living in the community were recently kidnapped by suspected herdsmen.
Edairu, added that uptil now the abducted Taraba man is nowhere to be found.
“This is the reason why we came out to cry to the Edo State Government that they should come and us drive those kidnappers away from our bush,” he said.
On her part, Mrs Eunice Ighalo, added that ,”we can no longer go to the farm or river and we are now seriously living in hunger and poverty, that is why we decided that we will go to Edo State Government House to protest there.
Blessing Ogedegbe, wife to Victor Ogedenge, one of the deceased, while lamenting that the corpse of her husband killed in February 2025 is still at the mortuary, appealed to the state government to provide her with a job to enable her cater for her children.
The Police Command in Plateau State has warned its personnel against unlawfully demanding and searching citizens’ mobile phones.
The Commissioner of Police (CP) in the State, Bassey Ewah, issued the warning while addressing its personnel in Jos.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Alfred Alabo, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
“No personnel of this command has the legal authority to search mobile phone of any citizen on the road without a court warrant,” Alabo quoted Ewah as saying.
The PPRO said that the commissioner, who reiterated the command’s commitment to professionalism, warned personnel against unprofessional conduct.
He added that the commissioner advised residents to politely decline any unlawful attempt by personnel to search their phones and report the incident to the nearest police station.
Alabo also advised residents of the State to report any incident of harassment through the following phone numbers: 08034448617, 08060545670, 08037681026, 09016146804, and 09051145757.
The PPRO further reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting the lives, property and rights of law abiding residents in line with global best practices.
NAN
The Enugu State Forest Guard and the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers have resolved to deepen collaboration in intelligence gathering, crime prevention and community-based security as part of sustained efforts to enhance peace, protect lives and property, and deny criminal elements safe havens across Enugu State.
The resolution, according to a statement signed by the Commander, Dr. Akinbayo O. Olasoji, on behalf of the outfit, was reached during a high-level interactive session held at the Traditional Council Chambers, Enugu, between the Commander of the Enugu State Forest Guard, Dr. Akinbayo O. Olasoji, PhD, MNIM, MNIPS, CPI, CINTA, CTA, FGCP, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rtd.), and the Chairman and members of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers.
A major out come of the meeting was the unanimous recognition that the three hundred and sixty-six (366) recognised Traditional Rulers in Enugu State constitute the State’s largest community-based security network and remain indispensable partners in intelligence gathering, early warning, conflict prevention, community mobilisation and the protection of forests and ruralvcommunities.
The Royal Fathers reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with the Enugu State Forest Guard, in accordance with the provisions of the Enugu State Forest Guard Law, by strengthening community intelligence, identifying suspicious movements, promoting vigilance with in their domains, encouraging the prompt reporting of
criminal activities and supporting lawful security operations across the State.
Presenting his One-Year Stewardship Review, titled “One Year of Transformation,
Leadership and Operational Impact: Building an Institution. Securing Our Future,” Dr. Olasoji expressed profound appreciation to His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, Executive Governor of Enugu State, for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to strengthening the State’s security architecture through the establishment and continued support of the Enugu State Forest Guard.
The Commander reviewed the remarkable progress recorded during the Forest Guard’s first year of operation, highlighting the establishment of a functional command structure across the three Senatorial Commands, seventeen Local Government Area Commands, forty-two Operational Sector Commands and more than two hundred and sixty Ward Security Units.
He further highlighted the institutionalisation of Standard Operating Procedures, strengthened command and control systems, enhanced operational accountability, expansion of intelligence-led patrols and deployments, intensified forest surveillance and bush-combing operations, improved operational reporting systems and sustained investment in specialised training covering intelligence gathering, cybersecurity, leadership, operational reporting, ethics, human rights and community engagement.
Dr. Olasoji reaffirmed that the operational philosophy of the Enugu State Forest Guard remains firmly anchored on intelligence-led, preventive and community-based security, emphasising that timely intelligence, early warning and proactive intervention remain the most effective tools for preventing crime before it occurs.
The interactive session also provided an opportunity for the Royal Fathers to present security concerns affecting their various communities.
Particular attention was drawn to the recurring incidents of kidnapping within the boundary communities of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area. The Council called for sustained intelligence-led operations, increased surveillance and stronger collaboration among the Forest Guard, sister security agencies and host communities to
dismantle criminal hideouts operating within forest corridors and border communities.
The Royal Fathers also expressed concerns over emerging security challenges in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area and urged that intelligence gathering, surveillance and operational presence be further strengthened to
address criminal activities and reassure affected communities.
The meeting also deliberated extensively on the ongoing Forest Guard recruitment exercise.
Clarifying the position of the Command, Dr.Olasoji informed the Council that the recruitment exercise has been temporarily suspended pending the conclusion of the Recruitment Committees’ final deliberations. He explained that the suspension is intended to enable the Committees to conclude their assignment and ensure that the recruitment process remains transparent, credible, merit-based and fully compliant with established procedures.
He assured the Royal Fathers that no further action would be taken until the Committees complete their assignment and that the approved modalities for the continuation of the recruitment exercise would there after be officially communicated to the public in the interest of transparency, fairness and due process.
The Commander further explained that administrative decisions arising from the recruitment process, including the
suspension of certain personnel, are being handled strictly in accordance with established procedures, institutional regulations and the principles of fairness, accountability and justice.
The Chairman and members of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers commended the remarkable transformation recorded by the Enugu State Forest Guard within its first year of operation and expressed confidence in the leadership, professionalism and operational direction of the Command.
The Council unanimously resolved to strengthen collaboration between every recognised traditional institution and the Enugu State Forest Guard by promoting community intelligence, strengthening early warning systems, supporting lawful security operations and encouraging citizens to provide timely information capable of preventing crime.
The Royal Fathers further pledged to work closely with Forest Guard Commanders, Sector Officers, Presidents-General, community leaders, hunters, neighbourhood security groups and other lawful stakeholders to enhance intelligence gathering, improve community resilience and reinforce peace and security through out Enugu State.
In his closing remarks, Dr.Olasoji reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the Enugu State Forest Guard to professionalism, discipline, accountability, respect for human rights and intelligence-led operations. He called on all stakeholders to remain united in support of the Governor’s vision of a safe, secure and prosperous Enugu State, stressing that security remains a shared responsibility requiring the active participation of government, traditional
institutions, security agencies and everylaw-abiding citizen.
The meeting concluded with aunanimous commitment by the Enugu State Forest Guard and the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers to deepen intelligence-led community security, strengthen forest protection and enhance collaboration across all communities in the State. Both parties reaffirmed their resolve to work together to ensure that every forest, rural community and border corridor in Enugu State remains safe, peaceful and conducive to agriculture, investment and sustainable development.
The royal fathers prayed for Dr. Olasoji for God’s protection in what he is doing for ndi Enugu through Enugu state forest guard.
Hopeful Smile Initiative on Saturday July 4, 2026, led a peaceful Infertility Awareness Walk in Lagos, calling on Nigerians to end the stigma surrounding infertility and recognize it as a medical condition rather than a curse.
The awareness campaign, themed “Understanding Infertility: A Medical Condition, Not a Curse – Stop the Stigma,” brought together healthcare professionals, reproductive health advocates, community leaders, volunteers and members of the public.
Participants marched from Abule Egba through major streets carrying banners and placards with messages encouraging compassion, public education and support for individuals and couples experiencing infertility.
Speaking during the event, The Founder of Hopeful Smile For Couples Initiative, Mrs Fasore Eyeola Christianah said infertility can affect both men and women and should not be associated with shame, punishment or superstition. She urged families, religious institutions and communities to provide emotional support for those facing fertility challenges instead of subjecting them to discrimination or social exclusion.
She also stressed the importance of seeking timely medical evaluation and treatment, noting that increased public awareness would help dispel myths and encourage more people to access appropriate healthcare services.
Mrs Eyeola seeks the partnership and financial support of well-meaning Nigerians, corporate organizations, philanthropists, and development partners to help couples struggling with infertility access safe and evidence-based family-building options, particularly Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).
The high cost of fertility treatment places it beyond the reach of many deserving families. Through your generous donations and sponsorship, we hope to ease this financial burden, restore hope, and give more couples the opportunity to experience the joy of parenthood.
Every contribution, regardless of its size, brings us closer to transforming lives and building happier families. Together, we can make the dream of parenthood a reality for many.
According to the initiative, the awareness walk is part of her ongoing campaign to advocate for reproductive health, empower affected families and build a society where empathy replaces stigma.
The event ended with participants reaffirming their commitment to sustaining public awareness campaigns and encouraging Nigerians to support individuals and couples on their journey to parenthood through understanding, acceptance and access to quality healthcare.
Email: couples.smileinitiative@gmail.com
Tik tok: couple. smile2
Instagram: couples_smileinitiative
Contact:09020797609.
