DREADED EGBEMA ARMED MEN ALLEGEDLY INVADE ADOLOSEIMO 2

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 DREADED EGBEMA ARMED MEN ALLEGEDLY INVADE ADOLOSEIMO 2

Palace Media Team yet to release official statement

Gallery Security Services marks 13th anniversary

By NigerDelta Voice Reporters

20th November, 2025

Tension has again gripped Arogbo Kingdom as heavily armed men, allegedly suspected to be from the Egbema axis, reportedly stormed Adoloseimo 2 community in the early hours of Thursday, causing widespread fear among residents.

According to multiple community sources, the assailants—estimated at about five individuals and allegedly linked to the Abere-Kokotoru axis of Egbema Kingdom in Edo State—were said to have arrived through the waterways inside the forest before launching the attack. They were reportedly armed with guns, petrol, axes, and other dangerous weapons.

Sources further alleged that the attackers began shooting sporadically upon arrival and later attempted to set houses ablaze using Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) before retreating back. However, no structure was completely destroyed, reportedly due to the swift response of local residents who intervened to curb the spread of the fire.

Residents described the incident as “terrifying and unprovoked,” noting that several families fled into nearby bushes and creeks to escape the assault. As of press time, no casualties have been reported, though local leaders say additional details are still being gathered.

This latest development adds to a series of alleged violent incursions that have troubled Adoloseimo 2 in recent months, heightening concerns about deepening insecurity across the Arogbo-Ibe area.

Community leaders are calling on the Ondo State Government, security agencies, and the Arogbo Traditional Council as well as The Egbema Traditional councils to urgently intervene to prevent potential escalation. They also appealed to the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to swiftly address what they described as long-standing border-related grievances between communities along the Ondo, Edo and Delta boundaries.

According to the leaders, only a clear, government-enforced demarcation by the NBC can resolve the persistent tensions and alleged cross-border incursions that have contributed to recurring clashes.

The incident comes barely two months after a previous alleged invasion in which two indigenes of Arogbo Kingdom from Adoloseimo 2 were reportedly killed.

Palace Yet to Release Official Statement

As of the time of filing this report, the Media Team of the Arogbo Palace as well as the Egbema's has not released any official statement regarding the latest alleged attack. Efforts by our correspondent to reach palace media representatives of both kingdom were unsuccessful.

Gallery Security Services Marks 13th Anniversary

Meanwhile, Gallery Security Services Limited—the pioneering private security outfit in Arogbo Kingdom—is marking its 13th anniversary. The organisation has been commended in the past for collaborating with conventional security agencies, including the police, Army, and Navy, to maintain relative peace in the region.

However, the timing of the latest alleged attack has raised concerns among observers about the need for strengthened protection for border communities such as Adoloseimo 2, which have faced repeated incidents of violence.

How the Crisis Began

According to community sources, Adoloseimo 2 and Abere community reportedly enjoyed peaceful coexistence until 2023, when a dispute over forest land escalated into repeated confrontations. The situation allegedly intensified on 18th August 2025, when armed men suspected to be from the Egbema area reportedly invaded the disputed land and opened fire on Adoloseimo 2 residents working there. Several individuals were said to have sustained injuries ranging from gunshot wounds to machete cuts.

The following day, 19th August 2025, another alleged attack occurred when the same group reportedly opened fire on Adoloseimo 2 men who had gone in search of their missing colleagues. The incident led to the death of one Okiriji Abeke, while another resident, Ediseimokunmo Tonwerigha, remains missing.

Authorities Visited Gunshot Victims

Following the August incident, security agencies and government officials from Warri North Local Government in Delta State and from Ondo State—led by the chairmen of the affected local government areas—reportedly visited the injured victims at an undisclosed hospital in Arogbo. They sympathised with the victims and pledged renewed commitment to resolving the forest land dispute.