Deadly attack over forced circumcision leaves one killed, one critically injured

A deadly clash over alleged forced circumcision has thrown the Ewatto community in Esan South East, Edo State, into mourning, leaving one man dead and another in a coma.

The outbreak of violence has sent shockwaves through the town, forcing an entire family into hiding as tensions remain high.

What began as a quiet day on April 13, 2026, ended in a brutal kidnapping and a desperate rescue mission that has exposed a deep-seated cycle of threats dating back to 2015?

An eyewitness, Mrs. Grace Ebose, reported that while she was working on her farmland, she heard voices shouting,

“Help! Help! He is dying!” She stated that she was initially afraid, as she suspected it could be a trap.

Out of fear, she began running home. While on her way, she encountered a woman running toward her, pleading for assistance and explaining that her brother had been severely beaten by bandits and was now unconscious for attempting to defend another individual, identified as Mr. Lawrence Izebhokhae.

The moment the bandits noticed Mr. Vincent was unconscious, they all ran away and left them all in the bush.

Mrs.Ebosa then followed the woman back to the scene, where she found a man lying on the ground unconscious.

She immediately ran to nearby farmers to seek help. Together, they were able to remove the victims from the bush, arrange transportation, and take them to the nearest hospital.

Upon arrival, the victims were referred to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where they received medical treatment.

Unfortunately, one of the victims, Mr. Vincent Izebhokhae, the younger brother of Mr. Lawrence Izebhokhae, later died as a result of internal bleeding.

Other victims are still receiving treatment, and Mr. Lawrence Izebhokhae is currently in a coma.

One of the surviving victims, Mrs Izebhokhae, further narrated that they were kidnapped by bandits on 22nd December 2025 and have been in captivity for over three months.

According to his account, the reason for their kidnapping was to force them to disclose the whereabouts of their daughter, Mrs. Ehiasotie Obiorah, and her children.

He explained that members of Mrs. Ehiasotie Obiorah’s husband’s family had been searching for her to subject her daughters, Isabel Obiorah and Christabel Obiorah, to female circumcision, in line with certain traditional practices.

The victim stated that these individuals had repeatedly visited their home, issuing threats and warnings, demanding that Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Izebhokhae produce their daughter and her children. He further added that these threats had been ongoing since 2015

This ongoing conflict over the issue of forced circumcision has resulted in the death of Mr. Vincent Izebhokhae and has placed the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Izebhokhae, as well as their family members, in danger.

The truth behind the violence has emerged through the testimony of survivors, who describe a calculated plot rather than a chance encounter. This was a deliberate kidnapping attempt aimed at locating Mrs. Ehiasotie Obiorah and her daughters, Isabel and Christabel. As the community reels, the Edo State Police have opened an inquiry, pledging that no perpetrator will escape justice.

This ongoing conflict has escalated from verbal threats to cold-blooded murder.

The Izebhokhae’s family is now in grave danger, caught between the preservation of their children’s physical integrity and the lethal persistence of those enforcing traditional rites.

The family is calling for urgent intervention and protection as they mourn the loss of Vincent and pray for Lawrence’s recovery.

This case highlights the deadly intersection of traditional pressures and physical insecurity that continues to claim lives in the region.