See How Suspected Herdsmen R’ape, Behead Woman In Edo

The University town of Ekpoma, the administrative headquarters of Esan West Local Government Area, Edo State was Wednesday thrown into confusion as women took to the streets to protest the murder of a woman identified as Mrs. Margaret Udiamehi, by suspected Fulani herdsmen, who allegedly beheaded her.

It was gathered that the headless body of the deceased was found in the bush in the early hours of the day, while the head was later discovered by police operatives at a different location.

The angry women chanted solidarity sounds as they marched through major streets​ of the town as they chant solidarity songs over the gruesome murdered of the deceased in her farm on Tuesday by the suspected herdsmen.

They later took their protest to the palace of the traditional ruler of Ekpoma and​ the Divisional Police Headquarters to register their grievance over the incident.

Citing the example of a woman who narrowly escaped death from the hands of the herdsmen couple of days ago, the protesters said they could no longer fold their arms and watch foreigners come into their land and destroy their crops, rape and kill them.

They therefore urged all concerned authorities to give them adequate protection, noting that necessary steps​ should be taken to curb the excesses of the hoodlums to enable them have peace.

Speaking on the incident, daughter of the deceased who was still in shock, said when her mother left for farm in the early morning and did not return home, the youths and other women became apprehensive as they embarked on a thorough search throughout​ the night before her body was discovered at about 2:00 am, with her head severed off.

The Divisional Police Officer of Ekpoma Division, SP Franklin Akanonu, who confirmed the killing of the woman, said they were almost giving up in the search of her head before it was finally discovered at a different location from where the body was discovered.

He appealed to the protesters to collaborate with the Division to fish out those behind the evil act through provision of useful information.

Meanwhile, policemen were seen giving protection to some members of Fulani who gathered in their camp in Ujuelen as the Divisional Police Officer, DPO explained that the action was necessary to prevent further destruction of lives and properties.