In Edo State, Nigeria, a big fight between different groups has caused a lot of trouble. On Sunday, at least 22 people were killed, and many others got hurt. The fight happened in several villages, where farmers grow cocoa, kola nuts, and plantains.
The trouble started on Thursday night when some farmers clashed with people accused of stealing crops. By Friday morning, friends of those affected started fighting back, making things worse. By Sunday, a group of attackers came with guns and other weapons, burning houses and destroying property.
A woman named Nafisat Abdulazeez, who lives in the Dipe Community, said, “They came into our village shooting and burning houses. They killed 15 people.”
In another village, Marindoti, seven people were killed. The community leader, Igbala Obazuaye, explained that the land disputes started long ago, in 1998. “Some people have been taking our land and stealing our crops for years. Now, they have come again, destroying everything,” he said.
The police reported that only seven people died, but others in the community say the number is much higher. Some believe that the attackers were not just angry farmers but armed militants who wanted to take control of the land and crops.
The Nigerian Army quickly sent soldiers to the area to stop the violence. Usman Mukaila, another resident, thanked the army for their help. “If the soldiers didn’t come, more people would have been killed,” he said.
Now, many people in the affected villages have run away from their homes. The community leaders are asking the government to bring more security, rebuild homes, and protect farmers so they can continue their work.
The fight is not just about land—it also affects the food people grow and sell. If the violence continues, it could make it harder for farmers to grow crops, and this could affect the entire state.
For now, everyone is hoping for peace.
