FROM TONY OSAUZO, BENIN
A clash between Uneme- Ekpedo and Bekuma- Okpameri communities in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State over mango, has reportedly left two people dead.
Trouble was said to have started on Wednesday, when one out of four people from Uneme- Ekpedo community, who had gone to the bush to pluck mangoes, was killed by persons suspected to be members of Bekuma-Opkamere after an attack.
Consequently, youths from Uneme-Ekpedo community were said to have mobilised and attacked Bekuma-Okpameri, setting houses on fire and attacking residents.
It was learnt that over 40 houses, including the palace of the Oba of Bekuma-Okpameri, HRH Oba Moses Alabi, were set on fire, while scores of people, who were wounded are now receiving medical treatment at hospitals.
Witnesses said, following the clash, residents of Bekuma-Okpameri have fled their community and are now camped at a makeshift for Internally Displaced Person (IDP) in Lampese in the same local government.
“As I’m talking to you now, there is nobody in Bekuma-Okpameri. It was unbelievable. The youths have completely sacked the community and residents are now camped in Lampese,” a member of a fact-finding team sent to the communities said.
It was further learnt that the persons who committed the crime that led to the arson on the Bekuma-Okpameri were neither from the community nor from Uneme-Ekpedo.
Confirming the incident, Edo State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, said five police teams have been dispatched to the affected communities to unravel the cause of the trouble and to arrest the perpetrators.