BENIN CITY-The right arm of one of the victims of Ufunmwengbe/ Okponha communal clash in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State, has been amputated at a hospital in Benin City.
Meanwhile, residents of Ofunmwengbe, his home town have called on the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Mr Samuel Adegbuyi, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other relevant security agencies to thoroughly investigate the fracas for justice and peace to prevail in the communities.
The amputee victim Osayuki Isaac Osifo, 26 told our reporter that the youths of Okponha community conspired to unleash terror on him when he visited a disputed spot in his area, last Tuesday.
Osifo maintained that no sooner had he sighted some youths of Okponha village laying foundation on the said disputed spot than one of the youths shot at him while others started shooting sporadically at different directions.
One of his kinsmen and the youth Chairman of Ofunmwengbe community Edosa Ogiamen stated that the attack on his friend by the youths of Okponha village triggered the communal crisis alleged to have left seven persons with bullet wounds.
He stated that his community Ofunmwengbe and Okponha have a boundary dispute and both sides were advised by the police and traditional authorities to steer clear from the area pending when it will be resolved.
Edosa Ogiamen further stated that Okponha community flouted the advice, sold part of the land in other to raise money to fight their rival neighbouring community, Ofumwengbe.
He however alleged that his kinsman Osayuki Isaac Osifo had gone to the area that fateful day unknown to him that Okponha youths and some heavily armed hired thugs deployed from outside the community laid siege to the disputed area.
He averred that some youths of Ofunmwengbe swiftly rushed to rescue their kindred who was severely wounded by the youths of Okponha.
It will be recalled that the youth Chairman of Okponha town Wilson Osaze had alleged that some youths of Ofunmwengbe community a.k.a Okada junction/new road, armed with guns and dangerous weapons attacked them at a building site during foundation laying in Okponha community.
No fewer than seven persons sustained varying degrees of bullet wounds during the broad day invasion.
Earlier, the Police Relations Officer, Edo Police Command DSP Stephen Onwochei stated that Ofunmwengbe and Okponha communities have been embroiled in a boundary dispute.
He explained that the police command has severally advised that they should channel their grievances to the appropriate government agency.
“They were warned seriously against taking laws into their hands, but last Tuesday, somebody from Okponha community was laying foundation within the area said to be disputed.
“While that was going on some youths from the other side come ostensibly to stop the process… single and double barrels were fully deployed, shooting at each other, before we moved in seven persons have already sustained injuries.
“Our intervention in the matter doesn’t address the issue of boundary dispute but to maintain law and order”.
Meanwhile, the Ofunmwengbe community head and one of his youth leaders earlier arrested have been released.
