Edo cocoa farmers battle produce thieves; many reported killed

From Tony Osauzo, Benin

A heavy clash has reportedly occurred between cocoa farmers and some produce thieves in the agrarian community of Gbelemotin in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State last Friday night.

It was learnt that many people were feared killed and houses burnt in the attack and counter-attacks that occurred on Thursday and Friday morning.

TheSun.ng learnt from a competent source in the locality that the crisis started on Thursday when an Ikale cocoa farmer hired some vigilantes to guard his cocoa farm, which had been under heavy poaching by some suspected Izon boys.

The vigilantes were said to have killed four of the Izon boys.

This was said to have led to a counter-attack Friday morning by some Izon 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, 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 said while pleading anonymity.

Spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, Moses Yamu, could not confirm nor deny the incident because he was yet to get confirmation from the Iguobazuwa Divisional Police Officer (DPO).