IDOGBO – Community in Ikpoba – Okha local Government Area, Edo State has been deserted by it’s inhabitants following the midnight raid of the community by combined team of soldiers and police.

An indigene of the Community, who spoke to our crime reporter on condition of anonymity, reveals that the activities of the Fulani cattle rearers in the community led to a serious fight between the community youths and the cattle herders.The fight led to the death of one of the Fulani cattle rearers.

According to the community source, the activities of the cattle rearers who were given a large parcel of land by the Enogie of the community,for cattle grazing in 2010, later became a cause of concern to the community as the cattle started grazing and destroying farmlands and farm produce.The Fulani cattle rearers were engaged in kidnapping, raping of girls,women, including pregnant women.

It was gathered that they kill people who are opposed to their cattles gazing and destroying their farmlands and products.

The source further said that in April 2015,one of the community youths,Ikubor Emeka was attacked and stabbed on his farm by the herders. It took the intervention of the Community Youth Leader, Mr Osas, who rushed him to the hospital, where he spent several days to save his life.

The source also said that several meetings between the community and the Fulani did not yield any result and several complaints and report made at the police station about the nefarious and unwholesome activities of the Fulani in the community was treated with kid glove.

The community youth leader, Osas with the support of the Enogie heard a meeting with the Fulani,who came fully armed. There was argument and commotion as the one of the Fulani pointed his rifle at some of the youths. The argument later degenerated into a free for all fight. At the end of the commotion one of the Fulanis died. Soldiers and the police were called in to quell the commotion.

It was learnt that the soldiers led seige on the community as they target the men and youths. They later named the youth leader, Osas, Ikubor Emeka and two other youths as the ring leaders of the crisis. The Police has invited then to appear at the police station to explain their level of involvement in the crisis.

The whereabouts of these persons is unknown,as they have fled for fear of been killed by the soldiers.