In a wave of anger, an for outraged residents of Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area headquarters in Edo State, set ablaze a police station in response to the abduction and murder of a young resident in the locality.
An anonymous source disclosed to Punch newspaper that the violence resulted in numerous deaths and destruction of police vehicles, fueled by claims that suspected Fulani herdsmen were kidnapping and killing people for organ removal, with alleged police collusion.
Narrating story, the Eyewitness said “The incident that led to the issue was the case of a young boy who was said to have been kidnapped some weeks ago and after a ransom was paid, he was still not released. It was later discovered that he was killed.
“The youths in the community were able to track the phone and the user was arrested and handed over to the police. The user was traced to the head of the Fulani community in the area”.he added.
The source continued, “Apparently not satisfied with the way the police were handling the matter, the youths stormed the police station and took away the suspect, led him to the house of the Fulani leader where on prodding, he allegedly confessed to them that several kidnapped victims had been killed and buried in shallow graves after parts of their bodies were harvested.
“The infuriated youths dug up the decomposing body of the young man in the compound of the leader of the Fulani who had fled with his family and in the process of digging up the decomposing body, saw several bones believed to be those of human beings.
“In anger, the youths burnt down the building and then the business centres of several other Hausa/Fulani youths and then stormed the police station and set it ablaze.” he added.
A frustrated youth passionately appealed for an end to the pervasive violence and exploitation, declaring, ‘Enough is enough! This evil cycle must stop”. He lamented that the police, tasked with protecting citizens, were instead responsible for the deaths of innocent youths, while also extorting money from grieving families.
Furthermore, he condemned the ruthless kidnappers who target vulnerable children, demand exorbitant ransoms ranging from N2.5 million to N3 million, and subsequently murder their victims despite receiving payment.
In a bid to restore stability, the Assistant Inspector General Of Police (AIG) Zone 5, Arungwa Udo and the Commissioner Of Police, Nemi Edwin-Iwo , personally inspected the area and assessed the situation.
Eniola Jolaoso