The Edo Police Command has confirmed the death of two more persons, bringing to seven those who have lost their lives in the clash between cocoa farmers and some alleged produce thieves in the agrarian community of Gbelemotin in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, disclosed in a statement on Monday that six injured victims were also receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital as against the four who were reported on Sunday.
The clash was said to have started on Thursday night and escalated on Friday morning as those believed to be sympathetic to the victims of the Thursday night fight mobilised and launched a reprisal on Friday morning.
Earlier on Saturday, a community source who did not want his name to be mentioned told PUNCH Metro the crisis started on Thursday when an Ikale cocoa farmer hired some vigilantes to guard his produce which had been under heavy poaching by some suspected Izon boys.
The vigilantes were alleged to have killed four of the Izon boys while on duty.
The Friday morning counterattack, the source added, was carried out by some Izon boys sympathetic to the four allegedly killed by the vigilantes.
The source added, “There was fighting on Friday in my zone, many are feared killed. Vigilantes employed by an Ikale man, Igbala, killed four Izon boys two nights ago.
“The boys were allegedly stealing produce belonging to the farmer. 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 unknown.
“Soldiers and other security officers were there later on Friday. They moved some bodies but there were still many 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,” the source volunteered.
When contacted on Saturday night, the Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, said five persons were confirmed dead while four others were injured in the clash.
In a message, the Edo PPRO said, “Five persons were confirmed dead while four others were injured in a clash between the Gbelemoti community and the Maidoti community.
“A joint operation with the army, vigilantes, and other agencies is ongoing as the situation has been brought under control.
“An investigation into the cause of the clash has equally commenced.”
In a fresh statement on Sunday, Yamu noted that normalcy had returned to the area with security operatives patrolling the area.
He said, “On 21/02/2025 at about 1000hrs, the command received a distress call of an ongoing clash between Gbelemonti and Maidoti communities of Ovia South West LGA.
“Operatives of the Iguobazuwa Police Division, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and the Vigilantes, were promptly deployed to the area.
“The team evacuated some casualties to the hospital where seven persons were confirmed dead while six injured ones are currently receiving treatment.
“The joint operation is sustained as the situation has been brought under control and normalcy restored. However, investigation into the cause of the clash has equally commenced.”
Yamu said the Commissioner of Police, Betty Otimenyin, vowed that no stone would be left unturned to unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate and avoidable incident, urging members of the public to always channel their grievances to the appropriate authority, rather than taking laws into their hands.
