By Edeniyere Abraham Osose
In response to the devastation resulting from the mayhem perpetrated by suspected militants from the Ijaw Community in Ondo State, the Edo State Emergency Management Agency (EdoSEMA) in collaboration with the Edo State station of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has conducted an on-the-spot assessment to evaluate the extent of the damage and the immediate needs of the victims in affected communities in Ovia South-West Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State.
Speaking on behalf of the Edo State Government, the Executive Secretary of EdoSEMA, Hon. Jerry Idahosa expressed deep concerns over the level of destruction. He expressed condolences to families who suffered the loss of their dear ones, acknowledged the widespread burning of houses, the destruction of farmlands, and the displacement of communities as a result of the attack by the suspected Ijaw militants.
Hon. Idahosa assured the affected communities that the State Government, under the leadership of Sen. Monday Okpebholo, remains committed to securing lives and properties. He stated that plans were already in place to provide relief and interventions at the earliest opportunity, urging displaced persons to remain calm and law-abiding.
The EdoSEMA Boss stressed the need for thorough investigations into the remote cause of the crises to identify those responsible and be able to bring them to justice. He reaffirmed that the Edo State Government would not tolerate such acts of terror and that security measures were already being reinforced to prevent further attacks.
The Head of Operations for NEMA, Mr. Ojuederie Kenoma while sympathizing with the victims, decried the gravity of the destruction. He noted that many had lost loved ones, their houses had been reduced to ashes, and their livelihoods had been completely destroyed. He assured them that the Federal and State governments had been alerted concerning their plights and that efforts were ongoing to ensure the necessary assistance for the affected communities as soon as possible.
According to a spoke person on behalf of the affected communities, “The turmoil followed a devastating attack by armed militants on Madoiti, Agolobi, Gbalematen, Eto, Baba-Dele, Dipe, Taye, among other communities in Ovia South-West LGA. The attack resulted in numerous casualties, injuries, and missing persons. The violent onslaught, which saw homes and farmlands set ablaze, has forced hundreds of residents to flee for their lives, abandoning their properties and livelihoods”.
Meanwhile, displaced victims have appealed to both the Federal and Edo State governments to establish a military base and a police station in the area, adding that only a formidable security presence would guarantee their safety and prevent a recurrence of such attacks. Many of the victims lamented the destruction of their communities, the loss of loved ones, and the total collapse of their livelihoods, calling for urgent intervention.
The affected communities, known for their expertise in farming cash crops such as kola nut, cocoa, palm oil, and cashew, suffered severe economic losses, as their already harvested crops, worth millions of naira, were set ablaze. The destruction of vital agricultural resources has further deepened the crisis; leaving the victims without their primary source of livelihood. It is alleged that the militants crossed through the river bordering Ondo and Edo states to unleash the mayhem on the people, intensifying fears over security lapses along the waterways.
