No fewer than five persons have been reported dead and many others sustained varying degrees of injuries during clashes between policemen and protesting youths over allegations of kidnappings and killings in the area by suspected criminals in Edo State.
Of the five persons already reported dead were four youths of Northern extraction who were set ablaze by the angry youths while the other was an indigene of the community protesting against killing and kidnapping within the state.
Aside from the casualties, a police station alongside vehicles in the station, was set ablaze by angry youths who claimed the police were providing cover for the suspected hoodlums.
The incident, as gathered, has caused tension among residents of Agenebode, the headquarters of Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, after the law enforcement agency promised to go after everyone responsible for the action.
On Monday, The Guild learnt that the clashes started after youths apprehended one of the deceased Fulani with the mobile phone of a youth who was kidnapped and killed after payment of ransom by his family.
It was gathered that the community youths handed over the suspect to the police, and after further investigation discovered he resides in the home of the Fulani community in the area.
Not satisfied with the way the police were handling the case even after they had been furnished, the youth were said to have stormed the police station and taken away the suspect, who it was gathered, led them to the house of the community leader where, on prodding, allegedly confessed that several kidnapped victims had been killed and buried in shallow graves after parts of their bodies were harvested.
The angry youths dug out the decomposing body of a young man in the compound of the community leader, who it was gathered, reportedly fled with his family.
It was also learnt that while the youth were digging the compound, several bones believed to be those of humans were recovered.
In anger, the youths were said to have burnt down the building and then the business centres of several people, killing some of them, before storming the police station to set it ablaze.
Before setting the station ablaze, eyewitnesses narrated that the policemen rejected the youths’ appeal to release the body of their colleague who was shot and died
When contacted, the chairman of the council area, Benedicta Atoh, was said to be too shocked to talk as claimed by one of her aides.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Zone 5, Arungwa Udo, and the Commissioner of Police in the state, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, have visited the area to restore order.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, was yet to respond.
