Governor Godwin Obaseki has reportedly said killer herdsmen, reportedly raping and killing women and farmers in Edo State are fleeing terrorists.
In a report by Punch, Obaseki, who spoke on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 after he visited to the families of victims, described the incident as a threat to national security.
The governor maintained that the killers were not ordinary herdsmen but Boko Haram fighters who fled from the war in the north-eastern states.
“These are not just herdsmen; they are Boko Haram terrorists, but we are working hard to put an end to this,” the governor stated.
There had been several complaints from residents in many rural communities over attacks by armed men suspected to be herdsmen.
The spokesperson for the community, Mr. Sydney Ikhajiagba, lamented that members of the community were living in fear and were afraid to go to their farms.
“Do not be scared of going to your farms. We have stepped up security in this area from Kogi State,” he added.
The development had prompted some of lawmakers from Edo State in the National Assembly to call on the Federal Government to step up security in the affected areas.
The deceased, identified as Christiana Ariu and Matina Omonyon, had last week been reportedly raped and killed on their farms in the Ewu community, Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.
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