Police arrest 3 over murder of vigilante commander in Edo

The Edo State Police Command has arrested three suspects for the alleged murder of Victor Ogedengbe, 50, the vigilante commander in Erah community in Owan East LGA of the state.

Moses Yamu, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Benin City.

Yamu gave the names of the arrested suspects as Ibrahim Agboje (king), Yakubu Abdulkareem and Kareem Audu.

He said all the suspects are from the Erah community.

“On February 25, 2025 at about 7.30 am , the Chairman of Owan East LGA reported at Afuze Division that one Vigilante Commander Victor Ogedengbe, 50 years, of Erah Camp, was killed in his farm by suspected herdsmen and was deposited at the hospital.

“Immediate investigation launched by operatives of the Afuze Division led to the arrest of three suspects, named, lbrahim Agboje (King), Yakubu Abudulkareem and Kareem Audu all of Erah Community and equally transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department for further investigations,” he said.

DAILY POST gathered that the deceased who was the Coordinator/Chairman of Vigilante in Erah, Owan East Local Government Area, Edo State, was killed on Monday, February 24, 2025, while returning from his farm.

It was learnt that he was on a bike when he was ambushed by suspected Fulani herders who have laid siege in Erah community.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “This is the third murder in a row from last year till date. The first was Edekin Igharo who was killed with cutlass in February last year. He was the head of the vigilante.

“Victor was next in command. When the former commander was killed, Victor took over and continued the fight to restore peace and security in Erah land.

“One other person was killed in May last year by the same suspected Fulani herders. Victor was also a successful farmer.”