Tension has gripped Jesse community in Ethiope-West Local Government Area of Delta State following the gruesome killing of a local farmer, Ayo Abuneke, allegedly by suspected Fulani herdsmen on his farmland.
Sources from the community said the incident occurred when Abuneke, accompanied by his son, went to his farm and found a group of herdsmen destroying his crops. The farmer reportedly confronted them, leading to a heated argument that quickly escalated into violence.
Eyewitness accounts reveal that the herdsmen, armed with daggers and other dangerous weapons, attacked Abuneke and fatally stabbed him on the spot. His son narrowly escaped the assault and fled back to the community to raise the alarm.
“The boy was lucky to have escaped. If not, they would have killed him too,” a resident who pleaded anonymity told reporters.
The killing has sparked outrage in the area, with palpable fear of reprisal attacks. Some Hausa residents in Jesse are said to have started fleeing the community amid growing tension, as angry youths mobilise to avenge the death of the farmer.
Community leaders and security operatives are reportedly working to calm the situation and prevent further escalation. As of the time of filing this report, the Delta State Police Command had yet to release an official statement on the incident.
Meanwhile, residents are calling on the state government and security agencies to urgently intervene, ensure justice for the slain farmer, and prevent a breakdown of law and order in the area.
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