Residents of Gbolomotin in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State have distanced themselves from the recent violent clashes between their community and migrant cocoa farmers, which reportedly left multiple people dead.
According to The PUNCH, while the Edo State Police Command confirmed that seven lives were lost, a separate statement from the state government put the death toll at 22.
Authorities have yet to make any arrests but assured that those responsible would be apprehended.
In a statement issued on Sunday by community leader Karaem Ebimobobowei, the Gbolomotin people claimed they had long been victims of encroachment by migrant cocoa farmers who settled on their land years ago.
According to Ebimobobowei, an agreement was initially reached for the farmers to pay a token to the host community for using the land.
However, tensions escalated when the cocoa farmers allegedly expanded beyond the agreed boundaries and began restricting locals’ movement.
“They have taken over our lands and even prevent our people from using roads and footpaths that lead to other Ijaw communities. They label anyone they see as a thief, attacking and injuring them—including women,” Ebimobobowei stated.
He further alleged that the farmers formed a vigilante group, which has been harassing and attacking local youths with backing from influential figures.
“The situation worsened last year when a young Ijaw man, a father, was murdered by the vigilante group while returning from a funeral. When an eyewitness accompanied a delegation to report the case to the police, he was unjustly arrested on false charges,” Ebimobobowei claimed.
He also recounted an incident where an Urhobo youth harvesting wild palm trees was shot dead by the same vigilante group, but the case was allegedly covered up by the police.
The most recent violence, he explained, erupted when Ijaw youths attempted to rescue community members who had been attacked.
“When they heard that our people were being assaulted, the youths mobilized to search for their missing brothers. However, they were ambushed again by the vigilante group. Despite the attack, they managed to fight back and rescued two seriously wounded victims who had been left for dead,” the statement read.
Ebimobobowei disclosed that the Gbolomotin community lost four youths in the clash, with two of the bodies taken away by the attackers. Several others sustained gunshot wounds.
He urged the government and security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the killings, insisting that the Gbolomotin people were not aggressors but victims of continued violence.
“As Ijaw people, we have the right to live and work in peace in our homeland. The narrative being spread by the cocoa farmers that we are the aggressors is false,” he said.
