Suspected armed thugs have attacked Okoroma community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
The attackers are believed to come from Amagba community, which they have a boundary dispute.
Consequently, the elders and youth of Okoroma on Tuesday appealed to the state government and the Benin monarch to come to their rescue before the community is wiped out by the thugs allegedly sponsored by a notable leader from Amagba
It was learnt that one person was shot dead and several others wounded last weekend when the thugs struck.
Already the community has been deserted as the hoodlums laid siege and unleashed violence on the residents.
One Sunday Uduware, 42, was said to be killed by the rampaging attackers.
The gunmen, alleged to have been accompanied by some policemen stormed the community in different vehicles and started shooting sporadically.
One of the wounded persons, Mr. Favour Sunday, now receiving medical attention at a private hospital, said that he was shot in the presence of a policeman who watched helplessly as the shooting raged.
At the time of filing this report yesterday, the elders, women and children were still taking refuge in surrounding bushes and villages.
Commenting on the attack, Pa Idusuyi Emokpae, one of the elders in the community, alleged that a top politician and another leader from Amagba came into the community with bulldozers and security personnel and shot sporadically thereby causing tension in the area.
“They invaded Okoroma with three bulldozers and they were mapping out layers and have been selling lands. I told my people that they should maintain peace because we do not want to shed blood,” he said.
“Yesterday, they came with four Hilux vehicles with mobile policemen but before then, in July 18, 2012, our then Oba Erediauwa made a ruling that Okoroma River is the boundary between us and Amagba,” he said.
However, efforts to reach those linked with the attack proved abortive as several phone calls put across to them were unanswered.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, said that some persons had been arrested in connection with the crisis in Obagie N’evbuosa community.
Kokumo added that investigation into the attack had begun.
