With less than a week to Christmas, it was a black Thursday in Edo State as at least six people lost their lives over a land dispute between two Edo communities.

The communities are on Sapele Road, Benin City, Edo State.

Sources within both communities informed Vanguard that trouble began when a group of thugs had a confrontation over a piece of land that had allegedly been sold to a cooperative society.

The disputed land according to sources, belonged to one Kelvin Oyenmwense, courtesy of his late father. The land was, however, sold to a cooperative society, thereby igniting a conflict between the two communities.

The ensuing feud claimed several lives with at least six people killed.

“The leader of this cult, sold the only land Oyenmwense’s father left behind, which resulted in a conflict between the communities,” said a source who witnessed the carnage, but didn’t want his name in print.

“They came with weapons and attacked everyone they saw. I counted at least six corpses and many others were injured,” said another resident of the community, who also didn’t want his name in print, but who added that members of the communities are now living in fear of a retaliatory attack over the deaths.

Asked if the police were aware of the incident, another resident, who also preferred anonymity, informed Vanguard that a complaint was lodged at the nearest police station by Mr. Oyenmwense and that police officers have been patrolling the communities.

Our correspondent did spot two police patrol vehicles on patrol in one of the communities.

Effort to reach the cooperative society were futile so were attempts made by our correspondent to reach out to the other party as the telephone numbers which were provided were unreachable as of the time of filing this report.

An eye witness, in an interview with Vanguard, however, said the owner of the disputed land confirmed that he had reported the attack to the police.
He said: “The communities have been having land disputes for years. We share common boundaries.

“But the land in question which was sold to a cooperative society is the land Mr. Oyenmwense’s father gave to him and I have reported today’s (Thursday) encroachment and attack to the police,” he added.

A Police personnel in a telephone chat with our correspondent on Thursday evening, confirmed that there was “a clash” but couldn’t confirm if there were fatalities or not.

He, however, said a report from the DPO (Divisional Police Officer) in charge of the area said a “complaint was lodged at the police station by a Mr. Oyenmwense, the alleged owner of the disputed land.”

He added that “the police would carry out a thorough investigation to unravel the actual owner of the land and bring the culprits to book.”