BY MIKE EGHOSA

BENIN CITY-Several communities in Edo State are yet to recover from the killings of love ones arising from communal clashes over land, traditional stool and women.
Such communities are Oduna in Ovia North East local government area, Aruogba and Okhoromi in Oredo amongst others.
The clashes have left many families displaced while several houses were burnt in the various clashes. 
Affected communities are yet to recover from the crisis.
On January 6th  2016, Oduna community was thrown into mourning when the Odionwere (village head) was brutally murdered by yet to be identified gunmen over the land he inherited from his parents. Pa. Monday Enogieru Ekhator was not only murdered but his house  razed. 
Killers of Pa Ekhator stormed his residence at a time two of his children, Pedro and Osarobo were at the farm working. 
Witnesses recalled that at the time the children got home, their father was already dead.
The witnesses said the killing might be connected to the quarrel late Pa. Ekhator had with one Osadolor over ancestral land inherited by Ekhator.
According to the witnesses, “On January 6, 2016 Pedro and Osarobo were at the farm working when information reached them that their father had been attacked over land matters.
“They have been using the land to farm for a long time. His father inherited the land from his ancestors. When the boys came home, the attackers injured them and set their house ablaze.
“The matter was reported at the police station at Ugbineh community.
“Pedro was the eldest and the next of kin. He had to run away to save his life because it was apparent the killers of his father were after him. His life was in danger over the land.”
Another resident in the village who gave his name as Osarodion said the death of Pa Ekhator shocked the entire community.
The lingering crisis between Iguomon and Ikhuenbo has claimed several lives. In December 2016, two persons, Osamudiamen Erhumwunse and Solomon Osayi, were killed in the communal clash while several others escaped with bullets wounds.
Their decomposing bodies were later recovered from a river in the community. One of them was hung on a stick inside the river. Both communities were said to be at loggerheads over boundary dispute since 1976.
In a peaceful protest, Vice Chairman of Iguomo community, Stanley Osadiaye, said the killings were carried out by some militants stationed inside the disputed forest.
Recently in Egor local government area, it took the intervention of security agencies to avert crisis between Egor and Ovah communities over a land measuring 500 by 500 feet while Aruogba in Oredo local government area, the Odionwere (Village head) Pa Owieadolor Ewansiha was arrested over the murder of the community chief priest, Pa Clifford Omosomwan.
Pa Omosomwan was shot dead at his residence at about 1am in 2015, village head of the community Pa Goodluck Uwumahongie was beheaded during a crisis in which 10 persons were killed while several houses and vehicles set ablaze.
Pa Goodluck was buried without his head as the yet-to-be apprehended assailants went away with the severed head.
Commenting on the unfortunate killings and lingering intra and inter communal disputes in the state the spokesman for Edo Police Command DSP Moses Nkombe said the police had launched a manhunt for those fingered in the incidents.
DSP Nkombe explained that the police would not leave any stone unturned to ensure justice peace in the state.