By Simeon OSAJIE
Residents of Ewatto Community in Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State have raised serious concerns over increasing insecurity following a kidnapping attempt that occurred in the community on Friday along the Ewatto–Udo Neria Road in the local.govermment area.
The victim, Mr. Ukpebor Paul Oboarekha, a farmer and resident of Idumu-Iyasele in Ewatto community, was reportedly attacked in the early hours of Friday, 8th May, 2026 while working on his farm.
According to family sources, suspected kidnappers assaulted the victim with machetes and sustained various degree of injuries with severed one of his fingers during the attack before fleeing into the forest. The victim was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where he is currently receiving treatment.
In a telephone interview with The9jaTREND reporter, sources in the Community linked the incident to recent kidnapping activities around Ubiaja axis of the local government, stating that local youths had earlier pursued some suspected kidnappers into the forest surrounding Ewatto community.
The sources say fear has now gripped the communities along the Ewatto-Udo Neria axis, as farmers and travelers can no longer move freely due to the activities of suspected criminal gangs operating within the forests.
According to one of the sources who simply identified himself as Austin stated that residents of Ewatto Community are now calling for urgent Edo State Government and security agencies’ intervention to prevent further attacks and restore peace to the area. Ewatto is the hometown of the current Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Senator Joseph Ikpea.
They also appealing to the Edo State Government, security agencies, vigilante groups, and other relevant authorities to urgently comb the forests between Ewatto and Udo-Neria in order to flush out criminal elements terrorizing the area.
They further stressed that immediate action is necessary to safeguard lives, protect farmers, and restore normal economic and social activities within the communities in the local government area.