By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY- THE Gbelemotin in OviaL South-West Local Government Area of Edo State on Friday night reportedly witnessed a clash between cocoa farmers in the area and some suspected produce thieves believed to be Izon boys in the locality which allegedly resulted in the death of many.

The incident said to have happened between Thursday and Friday also left several houses burnt

A member of the community who does not want his name mentioned said on Saturday that the crisis started on Thursday when an Ikale cocoa farmer hired some vigilantes to guard his cocoa farm which has been under heavy poaching by some suspected Izon boys.

The vigilantes were said to have killed four of the Izon boys and this he said led to some people believed to be Izon boys carrying out a counterattack on Friday in apparent sympathy with their four kinsmen killed.

He said “There was fighting on Friday in my zone, many are feared killed. A vigilante sponsored by an Ikale man, Igbala, killed four Izon boys two nights ago.

“The boys were allegedly stealing produce belonging to the Yoruba.The boys are from Kolombor (Gbelemotin).

“Yesterday which was Friday morning, there was a counterattack and some people were killed and houses burnt. The number of casualties on the other side is yet not known.

“Soldiers and other security officers were there yesterday. They moved some bodies but there are still many bodies in the bushes.

“The cocoa these boys were stealing belong to the Yoruba farmers in the area, at Madotti Camp. The Yorubas must have suffered some collateral losses.” He said.

When contacted, the Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, said that he was expecting details from the Iguobazuwa Divisional Police Officer (DPO) on what actually happened.