Ex-militants cause mayhem in Ondo, set 17 houses ablaze

Residents of Asere community in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State have decried attacks on their communities by alleged notorious gang of ex-militants, who terrorise and destroy their properties indiscriminately.

The victims, mainly women and children, protested in the community yesterday, appealing to the government and security agencies to nip the menace in the bud.

The protesters disclosed that the last attack was allegedly carried out midnight of Saturday by a seven-man gang of ex-terrorists, who were accomplices to a popular gangster killed in Ajapa a few years ago by JTF personnel.

The residents identified the seven suspects. Speaking on the motive for the dastardly act, they disclosed that one of the attackers, who is an indigene of the riverine community, Asere, alleged that his kinsmen were the ones giving the security men information about him and his hideout.

While addressing newsmen on behalf of the community, a high chief of the community, Abby Moulous, disclosed that the attack by the gunmen left many houses and properties destroyed. He added that many of the residents were currently displaced.
Moulous recounted that one of the kingpins came to the community to burn some people’s houses.