By Idahosa Musa
No fewer than five persons have been reportedly killed and scores of others injured following a deadly clash between Cocoa farmers and some suspected produce thieves in Gbelemotin community, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State.
Alltimepost.com reports that the clash which started on Thursday night in the agrarian community took a dangerous dimension on Friday morning as some persons believed to be sympathetic to the victims of Thursday night fight mobilized and launched a reprisal attack.
It was scooped that many people were feared killed and many houses burnt in the attack and counterattacks that occurred on Thursday and Friday mornings.
A source in the locality who pleaded anonymity said that the crisis started on Thursday when an Ikale cocoa farmer (name withheld), hired some vigilantes to guard his cocoa farm said to be under heavy poaching by some suspected Ijaw boys
The vigilantes were said to have killed four of the Ijaw boys.
According to the source, on Friday morning a counterattack was carried out by some Ijaw boys sympathetic to the four allegedly killed by the vigilantes.
“There was fighting yesterday (Friday) in my zone, many are feared killed. A vigilante sponsored by an Ikale man killed four Ijaw boys two nights ago,” he said.
“The boys were allegedly stealing produce belonging to the Yoruba. The boys are from Kolombor (Gbelemotin).
“Yesterday Friday morning, there was a counterattack, and some people were killed and houses burnt. The number of casualties on the other side is yet not known.
“Soldiers and other security officers were there yesterday. They moved some bodies but there are still many bodies in the bushes.
“The cocoa these boys were stealing belong to the Yoruba farmers in the area, at Madotti Camp. The Yorubas must have suffered some collateral losses.”
Contacted, the Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, said that five persons were confirmed dead while four others were injured in the clash.
In a phone text sent to our Correspondent on Saturday evening, Yamu said: “five persons were confirmed dead while four others were injured in a clash between the Gbelemoti community and Maidoti community.
“Joint operation with the Army, vigilantes, and other agencies is ongoing as the situation has been brought under control,” Yamu said.
“Investigation into the cause of the clash has equally commenced.”
Comment here
You must be logged in to post a comment.