Three suspects have been taken into custody by the Edo State Police Command in connection with the alleged murder of 50-year-old Victor Ogedengbe, the vigilante commander in the Erah village in the state’s Owan East LGA.
This was revealed by Moses Yamu, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, in a statement provided to reporters in Benin City on Wednesday. Yamu identified the detained suspects as Kareem Audu, Yakubu Abdulkareem, and Ibrahim Agboje (king).
According to him, every suspect is a member of the Erah community.
“On February 25, 2025 at about 7.30 am , the Chairman of Owan East LGA reported at Afuze Division that one Vigilante Commander Victor Ogedengbe, 50 years, of Erah Camp, was killed in his farm by suspected herdsmen and was deposited at the hospital.”
“Immediate investigation launched by operatives of the Afuze Division led to the arrest of three suspects, named, lbrahim Agboje (King), Yakubu Abudulkareem and Kareem Audu all of Erah Community and equally transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department for further investigations,” he said.
It was learned that on Monday, February 24, 2025, the deceased, who served as the Coordinator/Chairman of Vigilante in Erah, Owan East Local Government Area, Edo State, was slain on his way home from his farm. Suspected Fulani herders who had besieged the Erah hamlet assaulted him while he was riding a bike, according to information obtained.
This is the third consecutive murder from last year to date, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity. The first was Edekin Igharo, who was slain in February of last year with a cutlass. He was the vigilante’s leader.
“Victor was next in command. When the former commander was killed, Victor took over and continued the fight to restore peace and security in Erah land.”
“One other person was killed in May last year by the same suspected Fulani herders. Victor was also a successful farmer.”
