Sola Shittu, Benin

The Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr Lawan Jimeta, on Tuesday, deployed a tactical team of the command in Ehor to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the crisis in the community.PUNCH reports

Jimeta’s decision came on the heels of recent clash between the people of Ehor in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State and the Hausa community over alleged stabbing to death of an indigene who was said to have had an argument with some suspected Fulani boys in the community

Jimeta, who disclosed this to The Punch on the telephone, said preliminary reports available to him stated that a quarrel between two persons in the community led to the violence and mayhem unleashed by the youth.

“There are lots of aggrieved youths, most of them are not doing anything, they are only looking for an opportunity to unleash violence on the people. For any crime that was committed, they are going to be treated as an act of criminality and we are also in contact with the Enogie and other members of the community to broker peace,” he said.

He expressed dismay at the level of damage to property during the crisis.

Earlier, the Enogie of Ehor, Dr David Igiehon, while receiving Jimeta in his palace, urged the police not to relent but intensify effort at protecting lives and property in the community.

“We will still appeal to you to help us to talk to the Hausa people in the community to expose the troublemakers in their midst. We still want them to live with us, we are not against them and we are not against their business,” he said.

The Chief Imam of Ehor, Salihu Ibrahim, sued for peace, lamenting the burning down of Ehor mosque by the irate youth.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Hausa community in Ehor, Mr Badamasi Saleh, said the crisis would have escalated if the Hausas had retaliated, adding that as law-abiding citizens, they believed that the law would take its course.