Calm has returned to seven communities in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State following violent attacks that left at least 23 people dead and several others injured. Security forces, including the Nigerian Army and the police, have stepped in to restore order.
The affected communities—Marindoti, Gbelemontin Domiju, Kola, Taiye Camp, Eto Camp, Dipe, Bala Dele, and Thousand—are primarily farming settlements with residents from different ethnic backgrounds, including Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and Benin.
Eyewitnesses said the attack happened early on February 21, when gunmen believed to be militants from nearby creeks stormed the settlements, shooting randomly, burning houses, and destroying properties. The violence forced many residents to flee, leaving their homes and farms behind.
A witness claimed the attack was in retaliation for the killing of a suspected cocoa thief by local vigilantes. This incident further worsened existing tensions between the farmers and suspected militants, who had been accused of encroaching on farmlands and stealing produce.
Speaking on the situation, the spokesman for the Edo State Police Command, CSP Moses Yamu, confirmed that a joint operation involving the police, Nigerian Army, and local vigilantes had helped restore peace. He also stated that the casualties had been taken to the hospital and that investigations were underway.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Betty Otimenyin, has vowed that no stone would be left unturned in order to unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate and avoidable incident,” Yamu said.
Despite the presence of security forces, a mass exodus of displaced persons was observed. Many were seen carrying their belongings and seeking refuge in safer locations, while the once-thriving farming communities lay in ruins.
The head of Marindoti community, Igbala Obazuaye, shared his painful experience. He noted that they had been farming in the area for years but began facing trouble when some youths started demanding royalties.
“It started in 1998 when some youths began encroaching on our land, stealing our crops, and kidnapping our people, notwithstanding the payment of the royalties,” Obazuaye said.
He added that the attackers invaded the community around 8 a.m., killing seven people in Marindoti alone. He also claimed that cash crops, including cocoa and kola nuts, worth more than N20 million, were destroyed. He appealed to the government to establish a police station and provide assistance for rebuilding.
Another resident, Nafisat Abdulazeez from Dipe community, described the attack as traumatic and called for urgent intervention from Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo.
“They came into our community, shooting and burning houses. They killed 15 people, and many more were injured. They even burnt my own house, and my family was forced to flee,” she said.
Joseph Otu, another resident, rejected the idea that the violence was communal, saying the attackers were militants aiming to terrorize and extort peaceful farmers. He urged authorities to send more security forces to the area, stressing that these farming communities contribute significantly to the state’s economy through crops like cocoa, kola nuts, and plantain.
In response to the attacks, Usman Mukaila of Dipe community praised the swift deployment of soldiers from the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, led by Brigadier General Ebenezer Oduyebo. He also called for the establishment of a permanent Army base in the area to prevent future incidents.
“We commend the Commander of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Benin, for the immediate intervention and deployment of soldiers. That has helped to calm the situation for now. If not for him, the rest of the people would have gone. We also thank the governor. We, however, urge him to bring a permanent Army base to this area. We really need his help. You can see all our women and children leaving,” Mukaila said.
