Yoruba Farmers Are Attacking, Killing Us With HelP Of Security Operatives -Edo Ijaw Community Tells Gov Ikpebholo 

By Timi Black, senior correspondent

The residents of Gbolomotin Village in Ovia West Local Government Area of Edo State have accused police and vigilante groups of unlawfully killing, arresting, and detaining community members without cause.

The villagers claimed they are peace-loving individuals, but are facing ongoing conflicts instigated by Yoruba farmers attempting to seize their farmland. In response to recent media coverage and statements from the Edo State Government regarding the conflict in Ovia South-West, the Gbolomotin community has disputed the alleged fabrications in the news publications being circulated.

They expressed concern over the numerous misleading narratives circulating in the media and emphasized the need for their perspective to be heard. They further urged the governor of the state, senator Monday Ikpebholo to disregard and ignored lies and misinformation about the current conflicts in the area.

The situation escalated last year, the villagers recounted, when a young Ijaw man—a devoted husband and father—was murdered by a vigilante group while returning from a funeral in Jide Village. They noted that when an eyewitness to the incident accompanied a community delegation to the police to seek justice, the eyewitness was wrongfully arrested on false charges.

According to their statements, shortly after the Ijaw man’s killing, an Urhobo youth who climbed a tree to harvest palm nuts was shot dead by a Yoruba vigilante, with the police subsequently covering up the incident, which empowered the Yoruba farmers to continue their intimidation.

The community leadership detailed the catalyst for the current conflict, stating that on February 20, 2025, a group of Ijaw farmers set out for their fields as usual. Hours later, some returned wounded, their bodies bloodied.

The victims reported that the cocoa farmers’ vigilante group ambushed them, falsely accusing them of attempting to steal cocoa and shooting at them. Several people were killed, while others narrowly escaped with severe injuries.

“When news of the attack reached the village, the youth were furious and mobilized to search for their missing brothers, seeking to rescue any survivors. During their search in the bushes, they were ambushed again”, the residents explained.

Read the full text:

01/02/ 2025

PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM THE PEOPLE OF GBELEMOTIN VILLAGE,

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THE CRISIS BETWEEN MIGRANT YORUBA FARMERS AND IJAW YOUTH OVIA SOUTH-WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA.

In response to recent news reports and the Edo State Government’s press release regarding the conflict in Ovia South-West, we, the people of Gbolomotin Village, feel compelled to present the truth about the events that led to this unfortunate crisis.

Numerous misleading narratives have been in circulation and it is important that the public hears our side of the story.

THE ROOT OF THE CONFLICT

Few decades ago, Yoruba farmers encroached into our homeland and started planting cocoa trees. Initially, this did not create any issues as the Yoruba Farmers agreed to pay tokens for the areas they occupied while the Ijaw farmers cultivated palm trees in the free areas allocated by the government for local livelihoods. In the meantime,the Yoruba farmers focused on cocoa farming within the Free Areas belonging to the Ijaws and beyond.

However, over time, 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. Despite our repeated protests, they continued, using their larger numbers and threats of Government powers to dominate the farmlands.

As tensions grew, the cocoa farmers started accusing Ijaw farmers of stealing their cocoa—an allegation that was completely unfounded. They went further to prevent indigenes of Gbelemotin to pass through the roads and footpaths leading to other IJAW communities. Whoever they see on the roads were labeled as thieves and beating up and wounded in the process.To enforce their dominance, they formed a vigilante group that frequently harassed our farmers. Even women returning from their farms with palm produce and leaves for wrapping cooked food were attacked, and their harvests were seized. These acts of intimidation went unchecked, largely because the local police in Iguobazuwa sided with the cocoa farmers and ignored our complaints.

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.

Not long after this, an Urhobo youth who climbed to harvest wild Palm tree was shot down dead by a Yoruba vigilante and the matter was swept under the carpet by the police thus emboldening the Yoruba migrant Farmers to continue in their intimidation.

THE RECENT TRIGGERS FOR THE VIOLENCE

On Thursday 20th February 2025 a group of Ijaw farmers set out to their farms as usual. Hours later, some of them returned with gunshot wounds, covered in blood. They reported that the cocoa farmers’ vigilante group had ambushed them, falsely accused them of coming to steal cocoa, and shot at them. Some of our people were killed in the attack, while others barely escaped with severe injuries.

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 happen to be the Head of the Vigilantes. Several other youth of Gbelemotin returned with gun shot 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.

OUR APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT

The narrative being pushed by the cocoa farmers and widely reported in the media does not reflect the truth. Our people have been victims of intimidation, land encroachment, and violence for years, yet our voices have gone unheard.

We call on the Edo State Government, security agencies, and all well-meaning Nigerians to conduct a fair and thorough investigation into this matter. The Ijaw people of Gbolomotin have the right to live and farm in peace, just like any other citizens of Edo State. We are not aggressors; we have only sought to protect our land, our lives, and our livelihoods.

We seek justice. We seek fairness. And most importantly, we seek peace.

Signed

The People of Gbolomotin Village