[dropcap]T[/dropcap]ension is still palpably high in Issele- Asagba, Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State, following the alleged shooting of two herders in the early hours of Saturday, hours after the invasion of the community last week and the kidnap of 13-year old girl and a middle-aged man, by suspected herdsmen. The pall of fear which has enveloped the community came against the break of a somewhat cheery news of the safe return of the abductees, yesterday and the assurance of the state government that it would do all in its power to encourage the conventional security forces and local vigilance groups to enhance security in the affected community. The fear of the community is hinged on the fear of the prospect of reprisal attack by some herders who were said to have been hurt by gunfire in a skirmish with locals.
While the herders are currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital, the community is experiencing the relocation of some residents for fear of a reprisal attack, leaving the community almost deserted.
This, incidentally, is coming on the heels of the release of the 13-year old girl and a middle-aged man, Engr, Sebastine, reportedly kidnapped alongside the teenager by suspected herdsmen at Issele-Azagba.
The two were released four days after they were taken captive by their abductors. It could not be confirmed, at press time, last night, whether ransom was paid by relations or not.
According to our sources, the suspected kidnappers, directed the girl’s father to buy food and meet them at Abu-Isi, Otulu village in Aniocha South Local Government Area by 10:00pm on Saturday. It was learnt that one of the suspected kidnappers came on a bike and took the man to their den, where they released his daughter to him, “after counting the ransom money to ensure it was correct”.
All effort to reach the girl and her father proved abortive, as it was learnt her parents had taken her out of town for medical examination. The release of the girl and the man came as the state government assured that it would not relent in its support for security formations in the state to enhance the security of lives and property in the state. Information Commissioner, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, whoo spoke in reaction to the latest incident in Issele-Azagba, said the priority of the state government was the all-round security of the citizens. Aniagwu said that, in pursuit of that goal of a potent security architecture in the state, the administration of Senator Ifeany Okowa woud not relent in its support for all security agencies in the state.
Meanwhile, speaking to The Pointer, the National Adviser to Issele-Azagba Development Union (IADU), Sir. Paul Offor, said that the people were confused and ‘do not know what to do and who was responsible for the attack of the said Fulani herdsmen, adding that they heard gunshots in the morning of the fateful day but could not ascertain where they came from. He said that the police team was earlier seen, parading the community in the morning, stressing that they had resolved to investigate the shooting, after a meeting between the Fulani leaders, community chiefs and the traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty, Obi Jideuwa Ijei, the Obi of Issele-Azagba.
In a chat the Youth Chairman of Issele-Azagba community, Comrade Edozie Ogegbu, confirmed the release of Deborah and appealed for a Police station to be established in the community to help check the menace of kidnappers and other criminal activities in the area.
Comrade Ogegbu decried a situation where all the promises made by government when Azagba Mixed Secondary School was attacked last year October, were yet to be fulfilled. He specifically mentioned the non-fencing of the school, which still makes the place porous and the inability of the government to complete the tarring of the about two kilometers stretch between the community and Otulu. He revealed that since after the school attacked, the community had been paying stipend to the Vigilante to watch over the school to give a sense of security to teachers and students.
On the two herdsmen that were allegedly shot and were currently receiving treatment, he absolved the community of responsibility, saying that they were peace-loving people.
When contacted on phone yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the release of the two victims by their abductors. She also confirmed that the two herdsmen wounded with gun shots were receiving treatment in the hospital.Culled from Pointer