A violent attack on a young man in Edjekota-Ogor Community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, has sparked widespread alarm over rising insecurity in the region. On Monday, the victim was injured by gunmen while returning home after buying food for his three-month-old child. The assailants, who emerged from a bush path along the Oviri-Ogor/Edjekota-Ogor Road, forced the man to follow them but he resisted, prompting a brutal attack with machetes and gunfire. The victim is currently receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed hospital, while community leaders and residents express deep concern over the safety of their people.
Pastor Oghenemakpo Uyo, President-General of Edjekota-Ogor Community, provided details of the incident, stating that the attackers attempted to abduct the man before he was rescued by community vigilantes. “I heard a gunshot and immediately alerted members of the community security outfit. As they moved toward the area, the attackers fled into the bush,” Uyo said. Items left behind at the scene included a machete, a bag containing ammunition, food, cigarettes, and other personal belongings. The victim recounted that three armed men accosted him, ordered him to follow them, and attacked him with a cutlass and multiple gunshots before fleeing when vigilantes arrived.
The attack has intensified fear among residents, with community leaders urging both state and federal authorities to intervene. Pastor Uyo also revealed that shortly after the incident, suspected herders were apprehended by residents while purchasing food in the community. These individuals were handed over to the police along with recovered items, raising further suspicion of organized criminal activity in the area. A former House of Representatives aspirant for the Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency, Hon. Obakpororo Johnny, condemned the violence and called for urgent security measures to protect rural communities.
Adding to the security concerns, personnel from TANTITA Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) narrowly escaped an ambush while performing their duties in the same area. Despite the gravity of the situation, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, has yet to issue any official statement. The incident underscores the growing insecurity in Delta State’s rural areas, where residents are increasingly vulnerable to armed attacks. As communities demand stronger security presence, the government faces mounting pressure to act swiftly to restore peace and protect lives.
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