Activists decry killing of hearing-impaired man in community’s leadership tussle

The Executive Director of the Network for the Advancement of People with Visible Disability (NAPVID), Melody Omosah, has decried the killing of a person with disabilities during a violent leadership crisis in the Obazagbon community, Edo State.

Speaking on Tuesday during a peaceful protest in Benin City, Omosah condemned the gruesome murder of Efe Ogbeide, a man with hearing impairment, at a construction site by gunmen who invaded the community.

Omosah explained that Ogbeide, unable to hear the alarm raised by others due to his disability, was caught unawares and killed while others fled the scene.

“We are deeply pained. Mrs Betty, the wife of the victim, has lost a dear husband, and his children are now fatherless,” Omosah said. “Ogbeide’s only crime was striving to provide for his family despite his disability. He worked hard to avoid being a liability to society, but it was during this struggle that he met his untimely death.”

The NAPVID director lamented the frequent communal clashes over land disputes and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to curb such conflicts. “The frequency of communal clashes over land issues is alarming. Security agencies must rise to the occasion and tackle this menace. People with disabilities suffer the most during crises,” he added.

The Convener of the Talakawa Parliament, Kola Edokpayi, also condemned the killing and called for justice, urging the government to ensure that those responsible are prosecuted.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, CSP Moses Yamu, confirmed that three suspects have been arrested in connection with the Obazagbon crisis. He assured the public that investigations into the incident are ongoing.