One person has been beheaded and seven houses razed at Ogute-Oke community in Estako East Local Government Area of Edo State after a quarrel broke out over a girl.
The incident happened shortly after the community celebrated its Olimi festival and a party to celebrate the burial of a popular chief in the locality.
Several people were said to have fled the community to avoid arrest by police.
A source who pleaded anonymity on Monday, said, “Trouble started in the community during a party to celebrate the burial of a popular chief in the locality.
“A guy became annoyed that another guy was dancing with the girl he brought to the party. The guy reportedly used a cutlass to inflict injury on the neck of the other guy which led to his death.”
Some relations of the deceased were said to have stormed the community of the suspected killer and burnt seven houses in the community as residents ran away to avoid being lynched.
Edo Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Godwin Eshieshie, who hails from the community, said elders have waded into the matter.
He said, “They were celebrating. In the process, a guy was engaging a girl when another guy came from behind and started dancing. They have issues and one went to get a cutlass. He used the cutlass on another person not connected to their quarrel. They took the injured guy to the hospital and he was confirmed dead.
“The families of the deceased carried out reprisal attacks and burnt houses. No quarrel warranted the cutlass. Our elders have calmed down the situation. I planned to visit the community as quickly as possible.”
Edo Police spokesman, Eno Ikoedem, did not take her call at the time of filing the report.
In January, gunmen attacked a village in Plateau State’s Qua’an-Pan Local Government Area, killing seven people and injuring several others.
The incident occurred in Bong village, Doemak District, where the assailants launched a house-to-house attack, targeting women, children and the elderly.
