At least, six persons, including three members of the Edo State Security Network, (ESSN), have been shot dead by armed men who invaded Okhunmwun Community in Ovia North-East local government area of Edo State.
The incident happened at about 8pm on Thursday.
The assailants also shot and wounded several others including a retired military officer, in his 70s, Mr. Peter Omorogbe and Head of Tactical team of ESSN, Mr. Osarenren a.k.a General Small Baba, now hospitalized.
Police gave the identities of the ESSN victims as Endurance Ehioretin, Victor Uwaifo, and D.D; Osas Orobor an indigene of the Community, Sada Haruna and Wada Hilia, who are commercial motorcycle riders.
Sources in the Community disclosed that some persons have been missing since the bloody attack.
According to the source, the assailants in their numbers sneaked into the community with guns and laid ambush at Okhunmwun road by Uhogua junction and killed five of the victims.
He further disclosed that as the ESSN Head of Tactical team, General Small Baba, who resides in the Community was was sighted with some of his operatives in a Toyota Sienna, the gunmen opened fire on them.
Although, (General Small Baba) was said to have escaped with bullets wounds, three of his men lost their lives in the ambush.
It was also gathered that the armed men thereafter went to the residence of one Osas Orobor, an ESSN member, and shot him dead.
Findings revealed that after the killing of Orobor, the hoodlums shot sporadically thereby forcing residents to flee for safety.
Many houses around the scene of attack were deserted when our Correspondent visited the area.
The Acting Head (Odionwere) of Okhunmwun Community, Pa. Monday Oviahon, was not unavailable for comment on the incident.
Aformer Vice Chairman of the Community, Mr. Aigbedion Ifa, described the attack as shocking.
He said he had already left the locality for Benin City when the Youth Leader (Okaighele), Mr. Louis Ulamen, informed him about the attack, adding that he quickly notified team of soldiers who accompanied him with others to the scene of crime.
According to him, We rushed all the victims to Universitubof Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). Five of them were dead and kept deposited in mortuary. I later learnt that my own blood brother Osas Orobor, was also killed”.
The youth leader of the Community Mr. Louis Ulamen, said he would speak on the aggression unleashed on his Community on a later day.
The Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor who confirmed the attack, said one Charles Aghedo, a prison escapee reportedly led others to attack the Community over leadership tussle.
“The Okaighele of Okhunmwun Community one Louis Ulamen, reported the incident at Ekiadolor Police Division along Benin-Lagos Expressway.”
“He identified some persons who have been troubling the Community and have vowed to take over the leadership and control of the Community by force”, he stated.
Nwabuzor, said that on the receipt of the information, police in Ekiadolor moved into the Community where six fatalities were evacuated.
He added that investigation into the car has commenced.
Items recovered from the scene include one single barrel gun, one live ammunition, 62 expended cartridges, one Toyota Sienna with registration number BEN 973 TY and a mini bus marked RRU- 431 ZE.
