One person has been beheaded and seven houses razed in Ogute-Oke community, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, following a violent quarrel over a girl at a burial celebration.
The incident occurred shortly after residents celebrated the Olimi festival and a party held to mark the burial of a popular chief in the locality. According to a community source, trouble started when a young man became angry after another man danced with the girl he brought to the party.
The confrontation escalated and the first man reportedly used a cutlass to inflict a fatal injury on the neck of the second man, who later died in hospital.
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In a reprisal attack, relations of the deceased stormed the suspect’s community and set seven houses ablaze. Several residents fled to avoid being lynched or arrested by police.
Edo State Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Godwin Eshieshie, who hails from Ogute-Oke, confirmed that elders have intervened to calm tensions. He said he plans to visit the community as quickly as possible to restore peace.
Edo Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, was unavailable for comment at the time of filing this report. The attack has heightened fears of communal violence in the area as security agencies intensify efforts to prevent further reprisals.
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