Gunmen attack Edo community, kill another Okomu oil worker, set vehicles and houses ablaze

Gunmen attacked the Imariogha community, near the Okomu oil palm plantation, in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State, killed one resident, and set ablaze over eight vehicles and houses.  

The armed men who identified themselves as “Ijaw Freedom Fighters” invaded the community on Sunday night, May 12, 2023. 

The latest attack comes a week after gunmen killed three Okomu Oil workers.

The Commissioner of Police in Edo, Funsho Adegboye, confirmed the attack to journalists in a telephone interview in Benin City on Monday. 

“We are aware of the incident and have visited the community. We are already holding talks in partnership with sister security organisations and the Okomu oil palm company to arrest the situation,” the CP stated. 

Meanwhile, a witness said the invaders entered the community from the riverside at midnight, shooting sporadically into the air, setting fire to about eight private vehicles and destroying many houses. 

Rex Akpokiniovo, one of the community leaders, said that while one person was killed, a chief of the community, Gabriel Okorugbe, who sustained injuries from the attack, had been hospitalised. 

The corpse of the dead person has been taken away by the police. 

“My house was attacked, and my car burnt down by the gunmen who came into the community at midnight and started shooting sporadically into the air,” he said. 

“One of the Okomu workers, who resides in the community, was killed while the invaders left a warning note on his chest.” 

According to the note addressed to Governor Godwin Obaseki, the attackers, who identified themselves as Ijaw Freedom Fighters, made several demands from the management of Okomu Oil Palm Plc.