Tensions reached a boiling point in Elelu village, Erah community, in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State on Saturday, as residents banned the sale and consumption of beef in protest over the alleged persistent killings and kidnappings by suspected herdsmen.
The protest, organized by a coalition of community leaders, youth representatives, women, and vigilante groups, saw residents—young and old—marching through the village with belongings balanced on their heads. They threatened to relocate en masse to the Edo State Government House if urgent action is not taken to address their security concerns.
“We can no longer live here. Our farmlands have become hunting grounds for kidnappers. Our homes are no longer safe,” lamented Fred Enaikhe Aleburu, spokesperson for the protest and a community leader.
The protesters accused suspected herdsmen of turning the once peaceful community into a warzone, alleging that seven people had been kidnapped and killed in the past two weeks alone. Among the dead are community members Edekin Ighalo, Abdullahi, and Victor Ogedengbe, a local vigilante commander.
“These men died defending us,” said Aleburu. “They stood against armed invaders to protect our mothers, children, and land. And now, one of their bodies—Victor Ogedengbe—is still lying cold in the mortuary.”
Aleburu described the situation as a “slow genocide,” citing widespread hunger and fear in the community due to the loss of access to farmland and rising insecurity.
“Our mothers cannot farm, our markets are empty, our elderly are afraid, and our children are being hunted,” he said. “What was once a productive, self-sufficient community is now starving.”
As a powerful statement of protest and mourning, the community declared a permanent ban on the sale and consumption of beef, accusing herdsmen of using cattle as cover for violent attacks.
“We will no longer support a system built on our blood and tears,” Aleburu declared. “This is not just about food anymore—this is about survival.”
The residents presented a list of demands to the Edo State Government, including:
- Immediate establishment of security checkpoints at all entry and exit points in Erah
- A full-scale operation to flush out criminal elements hiding in nearby forests
- Visible and sustained security presence in the area
- Emergency food aid and support for displaced farmers
“If our villages are no longer safe, we will sleep at the doorstep of leadership until we are heard,” Aleburu warned.
Other residents also shared harrowing testimonies. Chief Julius Unuigbe said bush paths have become death traps, while Joseph Edairu revealed that his brother, two sisters of a friend, and a Taraba man were recently abducted.
“We don’t sleep anymore. We only wait,” he said grimly.
Mrs. Eunice Ighalo spoke of growing hunger and poverty, saying they would take their protest to the Government House if ignored. “We can’t go to the river or the farm anymore.”
Blessing Ogedengbe, widow of the slain vigilante commander, Victor, broke down as she appealed to the state government for a job to support her children. “His body has been in the mortuary since February. I don’t know how to continue without him,” she said.
The Erah community now awaits a response from the Edo State Government as pressure mounts for intervention in what residents are calling a fight for their very existence.
