No fewer than five persons were killed and four persons injured in a clash between cocoa farmers and some suspected produce thieves in Gbelemotin community, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The agrarian community witnessed a heavy clash between the cocoa farmers in the locality and some produce thieves suspected to be Ijaw boys in the locality.
According to a competent source in the locality who pleaded anonymity, trouble began on Thursday evening when a cocoa farmer of Ikale origin hired some vigilantes to guard his cocoa farm which has been under heavy poaching by some suspected Ijaw boys.
He disclosed that the vigilantes killed four of the suspected Ijaw boys who came to steal cocoa from the farm.
The crisis however escalated on Friday morning, as those believed to be sympathetic to the victims of the Thursday night fight, mobilised and launched a counter attack on Friday morning.
“There was fighting yesterday (Friday) in my zone, many are feared killed. A vigilante sponsored by an Ikale man, Igbala, killed four Izon boys two nights ago.
“The boys were allegedly stealing produce belonging to the Yoruba. The boys are from Kolombor (Gbelemotin).
“Yesterday (Friday morning, there was a counter attack 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 loses,” the source disclosed.
The State Police Command spokesman, CSP Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident through a short messaging service (SMS), said: five persons were confirmed dead while four others were injured in the clash.
“Joint operation with the Army, vigilantes, and other agencies is ongoing as the situation has been brought under control.
“Investigation into the cause of the clash has equally commenced,” Yamu said.
