At least four persons have been killed in the Obayantor community of the Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State following a clash between some soldiers of the Nigerian army and a group of youths.
It was learnt the community has been witnessing leadership tussle over the days following the removal of its youth leader (Okhaegele) and the installation of a new one.
Locals had alleged that soldiers were hired to the community in a bid to reclaim the Okhaegele title.
A resident who pleaded anonymity with Daily Trust alleged two soldiers were killed during the fight which happened last Friday.
According to him, the soldiers later regrouped and launched a reprisal on the community.
The soldiers reportedly invaded the community in large numbers and started to fire gunshots sporadically, forcing the people to scamper for safety.
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Four persons according to the source were shot dead during the fracas.
However, the spokesperson for 4 brigade headquarters of the Nigerian Army, Benin, Yemi Sokoya, has denied that soldiers were hired to the community.
He also faulted the claims that soldiers were killed in the chaos.
“Soldiers were not hired to the community and no soldier was killed. It was not a reprisal attack but an operation based on the intelligence of stockpiling of firearms,” he said.
He said the troops recovered three English pump action guns, two AK 47 riffles, one double-barrel gun, 32 live cartridges, and phones.
