2nd March, 2025
By Jethro Ibileke
The people of Gbolomotin community of Ovia South–West Local Government Area of Edo State say they have always been victimised by migrant farmers.
Recall that several persons were killed in the agrarian communities when a clash erupted between the migrant farmers and the people of the area.
But the Gbolomotin community in a statement on Sunday, signed by Karaem Ebimobobowei, alleged that their people had always been victims of the migrant Yoruba cocoa farmers.
He said they were not the aggressors as they were being portrayed by by the cocoa farmers.
According to him, many years ago, the migrant farmers encroached on their lands to plant cocoa and that as a way settlement, agreed to pay a token to them for planting their cash crops.
He further alleged that over time, the cocoa farmers formed the habit of attacking their youths through a vigilante group they set up and allegedly claim that they have the backing of people in the government.
Ebimobobowei said how his people had been harassed over the years, as the Yoruba farmers began expanding beyond the original areas they were allowed to plant, thereby encroaching on the free uncultivated lands reserved for Ijaw communities
He said as tension grew, the Yoruba farmers started accusing the Ijaw farmers of stealing their cocoa, an allegation he said was unfounded.
Speaking on the latest killings, Ebimobobowei explained that some Ijaw youths went to rescue their people when they heard they were attacked, and in the process, they were also ambushed by the cocoa farmers and their vigilante.
“They went further to prevent indigenes of Gbolomotin from passing through the roads and footpaths leading to other Ijaw communities, as they allegedly labeled anybody they see as thieves and they would beat them up and wound them in the process and women were not also spared in these attacks.
“The situation took a deadly turn last year when a young Ijaw man, a married man and father of children, was murdered by the vigilante group while returning from a funeral in Jide Village.
“When an eyewitness of that incident accompanied a delegation from one of the communities went to the police to report the killing and seek justice, he was unjustly arrested on false charges, further confirming that the authorities were not on our side.
“When news of the attack reached the village, the youth were outraged; they mobilized to search for their missing brothers, hoping to rescue some that may have survived the onslaught.
“While searching the bushes, they were ambushed again by the vigilante group. However, they managed to fight back and successfully rescued two seriously wounded victims who had been left for dead.
“At the end we lost four of our youth, two of whose bodies were taken away by the murderous and escaping vigilantes led by an Ikale man named Igbala, who happened to be the Head of the Vigilantes. Several other youth of Gbolomotin returned with gunshot injuries.
“It is necessary to point out that this same Igbala is fond of using his powers as a vigilante to harass both women and youth as they move daily on the earth roads,” the statement said.
Ebimobobowei who insisted that as Ijaws, they have the right to live peacefully and work in their homeland, called on the government and security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation.
