Seven persons have been killed and six others injured in a communal clash in Edo State.
The Edo State Police Command disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
According to the Command’s spokesman, Moses Yamu, police received a distress call on February 21 of an ongoing clash between Gbelemonti and Maidoti Communities of Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.
He said upon receipt of the information, operatives of the Iguobazuwa Police Division, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and the Vigilantes, were promptly deployed to the area.
“The team evacuated some casualties to the hospital where seven (7) persons were confirmed dead while six (6) injured ones are currently receiving treatment.
The joint operation is sustained as the situation has been brought under control and normalcy restored,” Yamu stated.
Yamu, a Chief Superintendent of Police, said the Command has begun an investigation into the cause of the communal clash.
He stated that the state Commissioner of Police, Betty Otimenyin, has vowed that no stone would be left unturned to unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.
Describing the incident as avoidable, the Command’s spokesman noted that the CP warned members of the public to always channel their grievances to the appropriate authority, rather than taking laws into their hands.
See the full statement below:
UPDATE ON COMMUNAL CLASH IN OVIA NORTH EAST LGA
– *Normalcy restored as investigation commenced
On 21/02/2025 at about 1000hrs, the Command received a distress call of an ongoing clash between Gbelemonti and Maidoti Communities of Ovia North East LGA.
Operatives of the Iguobazuwa Police Division, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and the Vigilantes, were promptly deployed to the area. The team evacuated some casualties to the hospital where seven (7) persons were confirmed dead while six (6) injured ones are currently receiving treatment.
The joint operation is sustained as the situation has been brought under control and normalcy restored.
However, investigation into the cause of the clash has equally commenced.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Betty Enekpen Isokpan Otimenyin, psc, mnips has vowed that no stone would be left unturned in order to unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate and avoidable incident and warned members of the public to always channel their grievances to the appropriate authority, rather than taking laws i to their hands.
CSP MOSES JOEL YAMU, anipr
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
EDO STATE COMMAND
