Residents of Gbolomotin in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State have refuted claims that they were responsible for the recent violent clash that led to multiple deaths involving migrant cocoa farmers.
While the Edo State Police Command confirmed seven casualties, a statement from the state government placed the number at 22.
However, no arrests have been made, but the police have assured that investigations are ongoing to bring those responsible to justice.
In a statement released on Sunday, a community representative, Karaem Ebimobobowei, explained that the conflict stemmed from land disputes.
He stated that for years, migrant cocoa farmers had settled on their ancestral land, cultivating cocoa and paying a token to the host community for its use.
Over time, tensions reportedly escalated as the cocoa farmers formed a vigilante group that allegedly began attacking local youths and restricting access to roads and pathways leading to other Ijaw communities.
Ebimobobowei claimed that the cocoa farmers gradually extended their farmlands beyond the initially agreed boundaries, encroaching on areas traditionally reserved for Ijaw communities.
He also dismissed allegations that Ijaw farmers had been stealing cocoa, labeling them as unfounded accusations.
“Our community has no involvement in the killings. The cocoa farmers have occupied our land and have even gone as far as restricting our movement. They accuse anyone they see of being a thief, subjecting them to physical assaults, including women,” the statement read.
He recounted an incident from the previous year when a young Ijaw man, who was returning from a funeral in Jide Village, was allegedly killed by the vigilante group.
According to him, when an eyewitness attempted to report the crime to the police, he was instead arrested under false accusations, which the community believes reflects bias from law enforcement.
Ebimobobowei further alleged that an Urhobo youth was also shot and killed while harvesting palm fruit, but the case was ignored by the authorities.
He explained that the latest round of violence erupted when Ijaw youths went to rescue some community members who had been attacked.
However, they were ambushed by the cocoa farmers and their vigilante group.
“When our youths heard about the attack, they mobilized to search for the missing persons. While searching the area, they were ambushed again but managed to fight back and rescue two seriously injured individuals who had been left for dead.
“In the end, four of our youths lost their lives, and two of their bodies were taken away by the retreating vigilantes. Several others returned with gunshot wounds,” he added.
Ebimobobowei accused a vigilante leader, identified as Igbala, of using his position to intimidate and harass women and youths in the community.
He called on the government and security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation, stressing that the Ijaw people have the right to live and work in peace in their ancestral land.