Following the incessant attack on the people of Oke-oroma Community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State by Amagba Community Indigene over boundary dispute which took place between Friday,6th of April and Saturday, 7th of April, elders and youth of Oke-oroma yesterday, called on the State Government and the Benin monarch to come to their aid before the entire community is wiped out by an alleged thugs sponsor by Peter Ehinmwinose, popularly called Ebo Amagba an indigene of Amagba Community.
Our correspondent stormed the vicinity on Sunday and According to information, one person has been shot dead and many others wounded when heavily armed thugs, last weekend, invaded Oke-oroma Community in Ikpoba-Okha local government area of Edo State.
Sources disclosed that the community has been deserted as the hoodlums laid siege unleashing violence on residents from one house to another since last Friday when one Mr Sunday Uduware, 42 was gunned down by the rampaging attackers.
The gunmen, alleged to have been accompanied by some policemen stormed the community in different vehicles and started shooting sporadically.
One of the wounded persons Mr Favour Sunday now receiving medical attention at a private hospital said he was shot in the presence of a policeman who watched helplessly as the shooting ranged.
At press time yesterday, elders, women and children were said to have been taken refuge in surrounding bushes and villages.
Commenting on the attack Pa Idusuyi Emokpae, one of the elders in the community, alleged that Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and Peter Ehimwinose came into the community with bulldozers and security personnel and started shooting sporadically thereby causing tension in the community.
“Amagba Community Development Association, CDA led by Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and Peter Ehimwinose, and his cult groups, they invaded Okoroma with three bulldozers and they were mapping out layers and have been selling lands.
“I told my people that they should maintain peace because we do not want to share blood. They are not armed”, he said.
Emokpae also alleged that the land in dispute was resolved by the then Oba in 2012 in their favour
“Yesterday, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen came with four hilux with mobile policemen but before then, in July 18, 2012, our then Oba Erediauwa has made a ruling that okoroma river is the boundary between us and Amagba.
“He also said Enogie does not own land beyond the river. Then Amagba went to court, right now, Obagie is our Dukedom and we are loyal to Obagie. We will not argue what the monarch has said. Whoever argues what the Oba has said is his enemy”, he said.
He called on the monarch to come to their rescue and proffer lasting solution to the land dispute.
“I have already lodged my complain at the palace and we are following due process because we do not want blood shed.
“Why will Matthew Iduoriyekemwen , because he is a politician, he will enter my community with hilux and mobile policemen, shooting guns and destroying houses?
“My appeal to the monarch is that he should come and save us. He should call everybody to a round table meeting for us to discuss then the decision of the then monarch will be looked into quickly so that there will be no loss of lives”, he said.
However, effort to get those alleged in the attack proved abortive as several phone calls put across to them went unanswered.
Contacted, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State CP Johnson Kokumo said some persons have been arrested in connection with the crisis in Obagie N’evbuosa Community.
CP Kokumo stated further that full-scale investigation into the attack had begun.
He however denied any complexity of the police saying “under my watch no police officer will protect hoodlums to commit crime in Edo”.
It was also gathered that operatives of 4brigade, Headquarters, Benin arrested some of the hoodlums, recovered sophisticated arms, ammunition and vehicles abandoned by the attackers on sighting the soldiers who responded to distress call during the violence.
Furthermore, proofs of Pictures, recordings of Interview and Videos will be published soon.