A coalition of Society Organisations in Edo State and GRA Association, on Tuesday, 4 March protested against the gruesome murder of a physically challenged man in Obazagbon community, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.
Spokesman for the group, Kola Edokpayi (Esq) of Talakawa Parliament demanded justice for the slained man and urged the government to ensure that the culprits are brought to book.
The victim identified as Efe Ogbeide and a deaf, was said to have been gruesomely murdered at a project site by invading gunmen.
The community is said to be embroiled in violent leadership crisis, leading to the destruction of property and loss of lives.
On his part, the Executive Director, Network for the Advancement of People with Visible Disability, Melody Omasah (Esq) said the victim was deaf and could not hear when the alarm of the invaders was raised.
While noting that the the frequency of community clashes over land issues is becoming too many, Omasah appealed to security agencies to live up to their responsibility and tackle it.
According to him, “While others ran away, but because he could not hear, he fell in the hands of his murderers.”
“We are pained. We are touched because Mrs. Betty has lost a very dear husband. His children have been made fatherless.
“Ogbeide’s crime was that he went around to fend for himself and his family in spite of his disability so that he will not to be a liability to society.
“It was in the quest of struggling to put food on the table of his family that death met him absolutely.
“The frequency of communal clashes over land and its related issues is becoming one too many. It has to stop. Security agents must rise to the occasion.
“When there are crisis in community, the physically challenged suffer more. People with disabilities are worse hit.”
Reacting to the development, the Edo State police spokesman, CSP Moses Yamu said three suspects have been arrested over the mayhem in Obazagbon community, adding that investigation is still ongoing.