BENIN CITY – There was confusion as well as pandemonium in Orhionmwon local government area of Edo state in the early weeks of February, 2020 as the news of the abduction of two school kids filtered into the air causing apprehension in the land.
It was gathered that before the abduction, there had been a series of threats from some unidentified persons who have been invading the home of the kids’ father, Omoregie Osazee Endurance but only met his wife, Florence Omoregie at home on those occasions.
On several occasions, the faceless hoodlums would come demanding the head of Mr. Endurance, and whenever his wife, Florence Omoregie told them that her husband was not at home, they would leave a message that they will not waste any time in smashing him (Endurance) to death with matchet whenever they sighted him.
The situation it was gathered continued to raise apprehension in the life of Endurance’s wife, Florence until the fateful day when the news of the abducted kids, Purity and Destiny Omoregie hit the air, thereby eliciting fear, panic, tension and pandemonium in the town.
When our reporter sort the view of the school authority, a teacher who did not want his name mentioned in print, said some boys came to the school with the claim that they were sent by the kids’ parents to pick them from school and they were allowed because the school has closed for the day and nobody came in respect of the kids except the boys.
Further findings revealed that the incident was not unconnected with the land tussle between Omoregie Osazee Endurance and the community which emanated since 2013.
Our reporter gathered that an oil company, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc had negotiated for a parcel of land in the community with a view to citing its company in the area.
It was further learned that the community approached Endurance on the need to release his parcel of land for the purpose with a promise that he would be adequately compensated.
This reporter, however learned that after due payment was made to the community by the said company, the community planned to arm twist Endurance with a poultry sum as compensation.
A development, Endurance it was gathered rejected, leading to a cold-bloodshed in the community.
As the bloody crisis loomed on, especially as residents began to desert the community for fear of the unknown, Endurance it was reported relocated his family to Benin city, but the angry youths of the community who have since scattered their dragnet across the state and beyond in search of Endurance, later relocated his family where they have been tormenting his wife until their two kids were finally abducted from school and have not been found.
When this reporter visited the community recently, the community could be seen likened to a grave yard as the only youths seen by this reporter were still brandishing various weapons signifying an unending to the crisis.
Meanwhile, as at the time of filling this report, the whereabouts of Omoregie Osazee Endurance was still unknown. But unconfirmed sources stated that he might have escaped to an unknown destination for safety and cover.
