2 Killed,40 Houses Razed,As 2 Communities Clash Over Mango In Edo State

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.