Tension As Hoodlums Raise Palace, Houses In Edo Community Over Alleged Headship Tussle

Hell was allegedly let loose at Okomu community in Ovia South West local government area of Edo State on Tuesday when some armed youths suspected to be Yanboh’s boys attacked the community hosting one of the nation’s biggest palm oil companies and burnt down the palace of the Enogie of the community over alleged power tussle.

The gun-welding youths were also said to have destroyed 11 other houses in the community before attacking another neighbouring community known as IK where they allegedly bombed four houses, including that of Amokachi, one of the prominent men in the community with dynamite.

Reports had it that the invaders on their way to attack the Markilolo community, another community in the area, were repelled by the army and the marine police stationed in the area to maintain security at the Okomu oil palm company.

It was gathered that one Lawrence Yanboh, an indigene of the Okomu community was alleged to have for some time now been trying to usurp the power of the traditional ruler of the Okomu Community and has been using some of his relatives and miscreants in the community to terriorise and intimidate the inhabitants so as to forcefully install himself as the traditional ruler of the community without success.

It was also learned that Yanboh’s illegal activities in the community were brought to the attention of law enforcement agents recently after which his home was raided by a combined security team.

During the raid, according to the report, the uniform of an army officer allegedly killed in the area some time ago in addition to the officer’s gun and other illegal items was recovered right in his house.

This was said to have prompted the security agencies to engage in a manhunt for him (Yanboh) and his associate leading to their going into hiding or self-exile.

Yanboh was said to have resurfaced with his gang on Tuesday this week to attack the community, burning houses, including the palace of the traditional ruler of Okomu Community and destroying properties worth millions of naira, claiming that the community was responsible for his ordeal with the security agencies by informing them of his activities in the area.

Confirming the report, Edo state police command’s spokesman Chidi Nwabuzor said the Iguobazuwa police division was aware of the incident but no official report has been made by any of the affected community.

He said many of the communities in Ovia South West local government area are riverine communities and are notorious for criminality using the surrounding rivers to evade arrest.

The PPRO also said that the Iguobazuwa police division has already put machinery in motion to ensure that the current situation does not escalate beyond control.