Hoodlums suspected to be assassins have killed a middle-aged woman, injured her son in a dusk attack on their residence at Obagie Community in Ikpoba-Okha local government area of Edo State on December 24.
The assailants also set their victims’ residence ablaze resulting in the loss of property worth several millions of Naira.
Identities of the victims were given as Madam Patience and her son Osemwingie Nosa who police revealed was rescued from a nearby bush after he collapsed while escaping with the wounds inflicted on him by his attackers.
When our reporter visited the scene last weekend, relics of glass louver windows shattered by the hoodlums before they reportedly went ahead to set the building ablaze littered the compound amid faintly visible smoke.
A neighbour who identified himself as Elder Imade Osas said the attackers invaded the building about 6:00 pm last Thursday.
According to him, “though the morning was not fully bright, I saw two men hitting Nosa with what looked like a club after they dragged him out of his house, he shouted for help. Suddenly, I saw his attackers chased him towards that way (pointing towards a nearby bush path).
“Thereafter, I overheard some other persons saying that their main target was Nosa and not his mother, so, they should raze down his house since he has escaped while they continue the manhunt afterwards”.
Elder Imade further stated that amid their conversation, he sighted five men including the two who had earlier chased Osemwingie Nosa returned to the compound and set the building on fire unknown to him that the assailants had abandoned Nosa’s mother in pool of blood having be taken to the spot she was attacked.
He said that the sad incident was reported to the police after the duo were hospitalized.
Narrating her ordeal, a tenant in the house Mrs. Omoruyi Evelyn described the attack as horrible and devastating.
“I was observing my morning devotion with my daughter when suddenly we heard a huge bang on the back door followed by commands, Nosa! Let us have the land documents now, you will die today…
“My daughter swiftly entered under our bed, I heard Nosa and his mother pleading as the assailants tortured them. They ordered us to leave the building as they ransacked everywhere. Immediately, we ran into the nearby bush from where we watched helplessly as smoke billowed from the building”, Mrs. Omoruyi Evelyn wept.
Residents of the Community including aged women expressed concern over the safety of the Osemwingie family who they said has experienced series of attacks since the gruesome murder of their father by yet-to-be unmasked killers few years ago.
Attempts to obtain comments from the victims were unsuccessful as some persons said to be close friends of Osemwingie Nosa whisked him to an undisclosed hospital for fear of being traced and killed by his attackers.
Our correspondent gathered that his widowed mother madam Patience has been in critical condition died at the hospital last Friday.
Contacted, the spokesman, Edo State Police Command DSP Abiodun Osifo described the attack as unfortunate.
He said one Elder Imade Osas reported to the police after he assisted to rescue one of the victims Osemwingie Nosa, 23, to hospital.
“Our operatives have commenced investigation, intelligence at our disposal indicates that there exists a grievous feud in that family, also, that the two victims and the burnt building at Obagie Community are of one Mr. Osemwingie Ogbeide reportedly assassinated in Lagos State few years ago.
“As we carry out our investigation, I called on whoever has actionable information to volunteer to the police because police are not magicians. I advise the victims and their close family members to be vigilant now that its obvious that they are being hunted. However, the police command is poised to protecting lives and property in the state”, the police spokesman maintained.
