In a bold and emotional protest on Saturday, residents of Elelu village in the Erah community, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, declared a permanent ban on the sale and consumption of beef, citing continuous killings and abductions allegedly carried out by suspected herdsmen.
The protest, which drew large crowds of men, women, and children, saw residents carrying their belongings in a symbolic gesture of displacement as they threatened to relocate to the Edo State Government House in Benin City if urgent action is not taken to restore peace and security.
The community accused armed herdsmen of turning their once peaceful environment into a stronghold of terror. They claim that in the last two weeks alone, seven residents have been abducted, some later killed, and one remains in captivity.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Fred Enaikhe Aleburu, a spokesperson for the Concerned Community Leaders, Youth Representatives, and Vigilante Groups, paid tribute to local heroes who lost their lives defending the village from alleged attackers. Among those honoured were Edekin Ighalo, Abdullahi, and Victor Ogedengbe — a local vigilante commander.
“These courageous men stood against armed herdsmen who brought terror to our peaceful land. For their bravery, they were murdered in cold blood,” Aleburu stated. “Victor Ogedengbe’s body still lies in the mortuary. Yet the violence continues.”
Aleburu described the situation as a humanitarian crisis, saying that farms have been abandoned, markets emptied, and livelihoods destroyed due to persistent attacks. “Our forests have become criminal hideouts. Our people live in fear. This is not just insecurity — it is a slow genocide,” he declared.
In their list of demands, the community called on the state government to:
Establish permanent security checkpoints on all access roads leading into Erah,
Launch a full-scale security operation to flush out armed elements from surrounding forests,
Provide emergency food aid and support to displaced farmers,
Restore safe farming and economic activities in the region.
In a symbolic move, the community also announced a permanent ban on the sale and consumption of beef, stating that herders allegedly responsible for the violence should no longer profit from the same people they terrorize.
“The killer herdsmen who hide behind cattle have taken too much from us — our lives, our peace, our food. We will no longer support a system built on our blood and tears,” Aleburu declared.
Chief Julius Unuigbe and several other residents echoed the concerns, saying their bushes and forests are no longer safe, and that fear has become a way of life.
Joseph Edairu, a resident, said his brother and two women from his village were recently kidnapped. A man from Taraba State living in the community also remains missing after a similar incident.
“We are tired. We have come out to cry to the Edo State Government to help drive away these kidnappers from our lands,” he said.
Women in the community also shared their pain. Mrs. Eunice Ighalo said they can no longer access farms or nearby rivers, leading to hunger and extreme poverty.
Blessing Ogedengbe, the widow of late vigilante commander Victor Ogedengbe, whose body remains in the mortuary since February 2025, pleaded with the government for employment assistance to support her children.
The community’s message was clear: without urgent government intervention, they will take their protest to the doorsteps of power until they are protected. Their demand: security, dignity, and the right to live in peace.
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