. . . Osakue Nosakhare Declared Missing
BENIN CITY – The significance of land cannot be over emphasised or its relevance as a factor of production in any community. Personnel or community land enjoys a universal level of attachment and utility in Africa as it serves both as inheritance and means of survival.
However, the activities of the Fulani herdsmen to occupy community forest and farms, thereby destroying food and cash crops meant for survival of individuals in Aduwawa and its environs has assume a frightening dimension at the community in Benin City, Edo State.
Reports reaching our news desk revealed that some persons at the Aduwawa Community in Benin City, Edo State, who are at the centre of strong resistance of Fulani herdsmen invasion in the community have started to disappear without trace, decomposing bodies are recovered in the bushes while grievous bodily injuries inflincted on others by suspected Fulani herdsmen who decided to attack the community for attempting to evacuate them from the Aduwawa community.
It was reported that violent conflicts is not a regular scene in the community following the order by the community youths, led by one Osakue Nosakhare to forcefully quit the Fulani herdsmen, following their atrocious activities of destroying cash crops in the farms, killing community farmers and raping their women, as act considered a taboo in the land.
According to statement signed by Mr. Matthew Idehen, Secretary Aduwawa community said that Osakue Nosakhare is at the forefront of every effort to quit and evacuate all the Fulani herdsmen in our forest because of the damage they are doing to our lands and means of survival.
However, “rather than hid the call to leave our community, the Fulani herdsmen armed with AK 47 riffle and other dangerous weapons, attacked our community, killing several persons and sought after Osakue Nosakhare and his family members for elimination”, the source said.
According to our investigation, not fewer than 8 persons in the community have sustained various degrees of serious machette wounds when the fight broke out on December 18, 2021. It was also revealed that one Mr. Osakue Frank lost his life in the process while some members of the community, including Osakue Nosakhare son of late Osakue Frank have neither been seen nor heard from since the last eruption of violent attack at the Aduwawa community in Edo State.
Contacted, Edo State Police Command, though confirmed the situation, however appeared helpless over the situation as no Fulani herdsmen has been arrested nor any one prosecuted for the killings and rape allegedly committed by the herdsmen.
As at press time, the whereabouts of Osakue Nosakhare could not be ascertained.
