Gunmen kill and bury herder in shallow grave in Delta

A yet-to-be-identified herder has been killed and his corpse buried in a shallow grave at Akwukwu -Igbo, the headquarters of Oshimili North Local Government Area in Delta state.  According to Vanguard, the gunmen said to have been speaking in Igbo language, opened fire at a group of cattlemen and their cattle in the forest at the Abakeleke Camp, Akwuwku- Igbo. 

They reportedly shot dead three cattle while some cattle fled in different directions in the forest. Spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, who confirmed the incident said the assailants were on the run. “The assailants are on the run, we are on their trail. It is confirmed that the corpse of a herder was unearthed. The family has taken the corpse for Islamic burial.” The gunmen did not give any reason for their action, other than warning the herdsmen to vacate the area.  

A source said a vigilante group in the area, Anioma Security Watch, in Akwukwu-Igbo,  went in search of the Fulani boy, who was between 15-16 years as soon as they got wind of what happened. “The vigilante combed the area before they sighted the shallow grave they buried the boy after the unpremeditated murder,”

he said The search team took the corpse of the young boy to the Akwukwu-Igbo Police Station, where the family made a report, and the remains were released to the family for burial, yesterday, according to Islamic rites. However, the unprovoked killing has caused tension in the community, as the natives said they did not authorize gunmen to enter their bush to kill anybody.