Residents of Olelo in the Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State have officially dismissed accusations that they are connected to recent kidnapping operations in the region. Jolly Igharo, the community youth coordinator, issued a formal statement on Wednesday describing the accusations as inaccurate and harmful to the town’s standing.
Igharo explained that external criminals have been utilizing the local forests as a base for their illicit operations. He emphasized that the residents of Olelo are not participants but are actually victims of this insecurity. According to Igharo, local farmers are suffering immensely because they are too terrified to access their fields, leading to significant crop loss and rising food insecurity.
The community has formally denounced these claims, stating that they do not support or benefit from any criminal behavior. Instead, they are actively coordinating with security forces and nearby towns to purge the forests of these criminal elements. Local leadership is now urging the government to increase surveillance and patrols to restore safety to the region.
