No fewer than two persons have been confirmed dead in an alleged clash between the Okpanam Community Vigilante Group and suspected herdsmen.
Trouble started on Thursday when the herdsmen allegedly attacked an estate in the community which resulted in a free-for-all at the Okpanam Junction, on the Benin – Onitsha expressway.
It was gathered that the herders were forcefully acquiring lands in the kingdom for their cattle business which was resisted by the youths.
The Vigilante Chairman, who was identified simply as Emeka and the Secretary were the victims of the herders attack last night.
The Director General, Young Nigerian Rights Organization, Comrade Victor Ojei, confirmed the death of the two vigilante officials, describing it as sad and unfortunate.
Another respondent, Ifesindi Augustine, lamented the killing of the vigilante chief, who led a formidable group in protecting lives and property in Okpanam.
He decried the poor security situation in the land and called on the police to live up to their responsibility of ensuring safety of lives and property of citizens.
However, when contacted, the image maker of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed that it was a case of kidnap, disclosing that the two vigilante personnel were shot by the kidnap suspects in an attempt to confront them unarmed.
The PPRO said the killing of the duo angered the youth of Okpanam, who blocked the expressway in protest over the incident.
She stated that normalcy had returned to the community, while the police had gone into the bush in search of the kidnap suspects.
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