20 injured as rival youths clash in Edo

No fewer than 20 persons were on Friday
wounded in a clash between rival youths at
Ikpeshi community in Akoko Edo Local
Government Area of Edo. The clash cropped up following a disagreement
over who should collect levies from vehicle
loaders in the community on behalf of the local
government council. Several residents fled from the community
because of the clash, while properties worth
millions of naira were destroyed during the
conflict. An eyewitness, Mr Abbe Oboh, said that the
crisis started when one faction wanted to take
over the collection of levies from the other
group. “The other faction refused and this led to a
shootout among the youths,’’ he said. Oboh said that the deployment of personnel
from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)
the state police command, however, aided
efforts to bring the situation under control. Mr Joseph Akerejola, the Chairman of Akoko
Edo Local Government Council, said that
normalcy had been restored to the area. “The police are on top of the situation and
everything is under control. “The perpetrators of the crisis would, however,
be brought to book,’’ he vowed. (NAN)