BENIN CITY – At least, four persons were injured and property destroyed when armed youths of Obagie-Uwaifokun invaded Iguogboe community, neighbouring villages in Ovia North-East local government area of Edo State.
The youths, alleged to have wielded guns, cutlasses, and other dangerous weapons inflicted varying degrees of injuries on two youths of Iguogboe community as others fled to a nearby bush.
Thereafter, the rampaging Obagie youths alleged stormed the youths secretariat where they reduced the plastic chairs to rumbles.
Ongoing building projects at two sites in the community were forced to a halt as they allegedly destroyed blocks, confiscated shovels and wheelbarrows resorting to abandonment of mixed cement and other building materials.
Women and children were forced to remain indoors while the madness lasted, last Friday.
Two youths of Iguogboe community, Shedrack Omoruna and Segun Imafidon who sustained machete-cuts said they survived the attack by sheer luck.
Similarly, our report visit to the youth office of Obagie-Uwaifokun community also revealed relics of plastic chairs alleged to have been destroyed by youths of Iguogboe, in retaliation.
The Odionwere of Iguogboe community Hon. J.E Aghedo disclosed that he was at his garden in his community when the youths of Obagie invaded about 3p.m, last Friday.
He stated that on sighting them with dangerous weapons he escaped by the whiskers to Ogida police station to report the incident.
He added that the invasion was over age-long disputed land which is awaiting court judgment.
Hon. Aghedo added that his two neighbouring communities, Obagie-Uwaifokun and another (name withheld) have severally attempted to forcefully annex Iguogboe community.
Contacted, the Odionwere of Obagie community Mr Paul Otawowie said he was informed on phone that youths of Iguogboe attacked the youths office of his community over a disputed land in the area.
He however maintained that some youths of his community later mobilised and reported at the nearest police station.
Attempt to obtain comments from Obagie youths alleged to have been wounded by Iguogboe youths failed as their CDA Chairman claimed that they were at the police station.
It took the intervention of a team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ogida police division, Benin City CSP Ajidahun Lawrence to calm the already tensed situation.
The DPO separately advised members of the two embattled communities to embrace peace as the police would not condone acts inimical to peace coexistence and security.
He enjoined the village heads (Edionwere) to call their youths to other as the solution to headache is not in cutting off the head.
The Public Relations Officer for Edo State Police Command DSP Osifo Abiodun was said to be out on another engagement when our reporter visited his office, Friday.
.
