Ijaw: Armed Men Invade Arogbo Community, Trigger Panic and Mass Displacement
By Paul Ebi
Arogbo Kingdom was thrown into panic in the early hours of Thursday following a reported invasion of Adoloseimo 2 community by unidentified armed men who allegedly arrived through the waterways and opened fire sporadically.
Multiple community sources said the attackers, estimated to be about five in number, were suspected to have come from the Abere–Kokotoru axis, though this has not been independently confirmed. Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants were heavily armed with guns, axes, petrol, and other dangerous weapons.
Residents recounted that after several minutes of sporadic gunfire, the invaders allegedly attempted to set residential structures ablaze using petrol. However, quick resistance from local villagers was said to have prevented any homes from being completely razed.
Witnesses described the early-morning assault as “terrifying,” “unprovoked,” and unlike anything the community had experienced in recent months. Hundreds of residents, including women and children, reportedly fled into nearby bushes and creeks in a desperate search for safety.
As of the time of filing this report, there are no confirmed casualties, and details remain sketchy as frightened villagers continue to share accounts of the ordeal.
Thursday’s incident adds to a growing list of security breaches that have unsettled the Arogbo-Ibe area in recent months. Community leaders expressed deep worry over what they called a steadily deteriorating security landscape and an apparent lack of effective protection for residents.
They are calling on the Ondo State Government, security agencies, and the Arogbo traditional institution to urgently intervene, restore calm, and prevent what they fear could escalate into a wider wave of violence.
The latest invasion comes barely two months after a previous violent outbreak in the same community, during which two youths reportedly lost their lives. Many residents now fear that without immediate and decisive action, the cycle of attacks may intensify further.
