Residents of Abavo community, Ika South Local Government Area, Delta State, are gripped with apprehension following the reported killing of Elder Francis Amamosa, the pioneer Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abavo Ward 10, by suspected herdsmen. Additionally, two farmers were reportedly kidnapped by the herdsmen during the incident, which took place on Monday in a farmland within the community. Vanguard reported.
The attack came three days after after a palm wine tapper was reportedly ambushed and killed in a bush in the community by suspected armed herders who have been prowling the area in the last few months.
Amamosa, who was 79 years of age, was attacked by the herdsmen when he went with some labourers to his farm to plant yams.
It was gathered that the septuagenarian died of matchete injuries after gunshots by his assailants failed to penetrate him.
Sources said he died before he could be moved away from the farm as the herders fled, whisking away their kidnapped victims.
Giving details of the incident, son of the deceased politician, Mr. Bruno Anamosa said: “He was on the farm working with some labourers; they were planting yams, so he now decided to go to another section, last year’s farm to get some yams that they were going to plant.
“He was riding on a motorcycle and while he was going, he met the herdsmen on the road and they attacked him. While he was on the motorcycle, they used cutlasses on him, so he fell and the motorcycle fell on him.
“They started shooting at him; the man on his own, he was somehow strong,. He was in their middle, so that was how they started using cutlasses on him.
“As they were doing that, he was shouting and the labourers, about five of them were coming but the herdsmen stopped them at gunpoint.”
Meanwhile sources disclosed that two other farmers who also who were in their farms were kidnapped in the incident.
A source who craved anonymity, said farmlands in the area and neighbouring communities had been invaded by herdsmen who he said had been killing and kidnapping farmers.
“Abavo that used to be the food basket of Delta State, our people no longer go to farm”, he lamented.
Contacted, Police Public Relations Officer of the State Command, Mr. Bright Edafe, confirmed the killing.
He could however not confirm if the attack was carried out by herdsmen, saying: “Yes, he was killed by unknown persons but we are on their trail to see that we arrest them and ensure that they are brought to book.”
On the kidnapped victims, he said “that, l am not aware of.”
