A resident of Iyanomo community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, Patricia Onaghise, has described the fear people experienced after violence broke out over a leadership succession dispute.
In a video from 0:31 shared by Arise TV, according to her, the sound of gunfire during the crisis was unlike anything the community had experienced in decades. She said even during the Nigerian Civil War, commonly known as the Biafra War, they did not witness such frightening gunshots.
Onaghise explained that when the shooting started, residents ran in different directions to save their lives. She said many families have been living in fear ever since, unable to sleep peacefully because they are constantly worried that fresh violence could erupt at any time.
She added that people in the community now sleep with fear, always staying alert because they do not feel safe in their own homes.
The resident appealed to Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to intervene and restore peace to the community. She said the people want an end to the crisis so they can return to their normal lives without fear.
Iyanomo community has been facing a leadership succession crisis since the death of its former leader in 2021. The dispute turned violent on January 13, 2026, leading to the destruction of properties worth millions of naira. The violence also forced many residents to flee the area over fears of being attacked.
In her words, “The Gunshots that we heard in this village, we didn’t hear them during the time of Biafra, we became afraid, we started running helter skelter….See More