Suspected herdsmen kill civil servant in Edo

Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have reportedly killed Inofomoh Gabriel, a civil servant, at his farm in Jattu community, the headquarters of Uzairue clan in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

The incident was said to have happened last Wednesday.

A source disclosed this to newsmen and said the deceased also worked at Auchi Polytechnic before his unfortunate death.

According to him, his corpse was discovered on Saturday in the bush with several machete cuts all over his body.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they suspected that the farmer might have been killed by herders who have been kidnapping farmers on their farms in the area and, in some cases, killed some of their victims.

He further said that the farmer, who is also a staff member of Auchi Polytechnic, went to the farm last Wednesday. But when he didn’t come back home, the community organised a search that combed the bush for him.

“The community became worried after two days of his disappearance as there was no information on his whereabouts, coupled with the fact that no one contacted his family demanding ransom,” he said.

He said the matter has been reported to the Jattu Police Division. A source at the station confirmed the incident but said he was not authorised to speak.

SP Chidi Nwabuzor, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, when contacted, promised to get back after contacting the divisional police officer in charge of the Jattu Division.