20 Injured As Rival Youths Clash In Edo

[Shola Sholaz]

Edo –  No fewer than 20 persons were on Friday wounded in a clash between rival youths at Ikpeshi community in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo.
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The clash cropped up following a disagreement over who should collect levies from vehicle loaders in the community on behalf of the local government council.
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Several residents fled from the community because of the clash, while properties worth millions of naira were destroyed during the conflict.
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An eyewitness, Mr Abbe Oboh, said that the crisis started when one faction wanted to take over the collection of levies from the other group.
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"The other faction refused and this led to a shootout among the youths,'' he said.
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Oboh said that the deployment of personnel from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) the state police command, however, aided efforts to bring the situation under control.
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Mr Joseph Akerejola, the Chairman of Akoko Edo Local Government Council, said that normalcy had been restored to the area.