The Ovie of Oruarivie-Abrakahas has fled his kingdom in a bid to avoid an abomination and amid tension that enveloped Urhuoka-Abraka community in Ethiope-East Local Government Area of Delta State after armed men, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, killed and beheaded a member of the community.
Sources told the Punch that the incident happened on Monday around Ovre-Abraka bush where indigenes of the community farm.
The victim, a welder, who was later identified as Solomon Ejor, was said to have been killed while trying to rescue his mother, Mrs Maria Ejor, who had gone to Ovre to farm, and was held hostage by the herdsmen in her farm.
It is gathered that on getting to the place, a confrontation broke out, which led to the woman being freed, but Solomon was shot and then beheaded by the suspected herdsmen.
Sources say over 50 local farmers have been killed since the menace of Fulani herdsmen began and indigenes accuse the state government and security operatives of playing politics with the killings.
Angered by the continued killing and inaction of the traditional ruler, angry indigenes reportedly retrieved the mutilated body of the victim, went to the palace of the Ovie of Oruarivie-Abraka and dumped the corpse there to register their grievances.
Upon sighting the angry mob and the corpse of the slain welder, the monarch is said to have fled the palace through the back gate to an unknown destination probably to avoid seeing the corpse which is an abomination for a monarch in Urhobo.
The protesters then invaded the palace, destroying cars and air conditioners with a threat to torch the palace but for the timely intervention of a detachment of army personnel.
The President General of the community, Dr. Tedwins Emudainohwo, whose car was also destroyed said, “They brought the corpse to the palace with the intention of desecrating the palace coupled with the fact that it is a taboo for the Ovie to see a corpse.
“The victim, in company with his younger brother and two friends, had gone to the bush to rescue their mother who had gone to the farm and was trapped in the bush, following shootings by herdsmen in the area.”
“Their mother had gone to her farm on Monday to work. While there, she started hearing gunshots inside the bush and had to take cover at a spot. In her hiding position, she was able to see some Fulani herdsmen walking past as they continued shooting. After the situation had calmed down, she called her children and told them that she was trapped inside the bush.”
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