Residents of Elelu village in Erah community, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, have taken the extraordinary step of banning the sale and consumption of beef following what they describe as persistent kidnappings and killings of community members by suspected herdsmen.

The decision was announced during a community-wide protest on Saturday, where residents threatened to relocate to the Edo State Government House if authorities fail to address the security crisis that has made their community "uninhabitable."

According to community representatives, approximately seven residents have been kidnapped and killed in the past two weeks alone. The protesters, carrying their belongings, marched in large numbers to demand government intervention against the alleged herdsmen who have reportedly invaded their farmlands and abducted community members.

Honoring Fallen Community Defenders

Fred Enaikhe Aleburu, spokesperson for the Concerned Community Leaders, Youth Representatives, and Vigilante Leaders, identified three community defenders who lost their lives protecting residents: Edekin Ighalo, Abdullahi, and Victor Ogedengbe, a Vigilante commander.

"These courageous men stood against armed herdsmen who had brought terror to our peaceful land. They shielded our mothers, our children, and our farmlands, and for their sacrifice, they were murdered in cold blood," Aleburu stated.

He added that the body of Victor Ogedengbe still remains in the mortuary while violence continues unabated. "Our forests have been turned into dens of terror, criminal strongholds where ransom is demanded and innocent victims are kept under inhumane conditions," he lamented.

Food Security Crisis

The community also highlighted the growing food insecurity resulting from the attacks. Residents can no longer access their farms safely, leading to empty markets and widespread hunger.

"What was once a self-sufficient and productive community is now battling starvation and fear," Aleburu explained.

Chief Julius Unuigbe corroborated these claims, stating that herdsmen have invaded their forests, targeting residents for kidnapping or killing. "People no longer sleep with their eyes closed," he said.

Community Demands

The protesters presented several demands to the government, including:

- Immediate establishment of permanent security checkpoints on all roads and entry points to Erah

- A comprehensive investigation and clearing of forests to eliminate alleged terrorist elements

- Sustained security presence across villages

- Emergency intervention to address food insecurity

"As a solemn response to our collective suffering and to honor our fallen defenders, the people of Erah hereby declare a permanent ban on the consumption and sale of beef in our community," Aleburu announced. "The killer herdsmen who hide behind cattle have taken too much from us. Our lives, our food, our peace. We will not continue to support a system built on our blood and tears."

Mrs. Eunice Ighalo, another resident, expressed the community's desperation: "We can no longer go to the farm or river, and we are now seriously living in hunger and poverty. That is why we decided that we will go to Edo State Government House to protest there."

Blessing Ogedegbe, widow of the slain vigilante commander Victor Ogedengbe, appealed to the state government to provide her with employment to support her children, noting that her husband's body has remained in the mortuary since his death in February 2025.