FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Tension has heightened in Oghede community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, as men of the Nigerian Army battled alleged land grabbers and demolished properties said to have been built on their land.
It would be recalled that some residents had last week staged a protest to the House of Assembly, urging lawmakers to call the army to order over what they described as illegal demolition and acquisition of the ancestral land.
Also, a socio-cultural organisation, Benin Solidarity Movement, BSM, however, faulted the way and manner that the Enogie of the community, Chief Osadebamwen Aghahowa, is handling the matter, noting that he should have reported to the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, for resolution rather than resort to self-help.
President of the group, Comrade Curtis Ugbo said the Enogie knows that he was installed by the Oba of Benin who is the overlord of all lands in the kingdom.
“Why is he resorting to self-help or going to social media trying to the drag institution of the federal government, the Nigeria Army? We are appealing to the army to stop forthwith with the demolition because such is a taboo in the Kingdom.”
Meanwhile, a developer in the community, Jessica Salako has fled her site since the face-off between the army and the community began.
She lamented that since the crisis broke out, she and her workers had abandoned the construction of a building for fear attack.
But in a swift reaction, the Headquarters, 4th Brigade, Nigerian Army, in a statement signed by its Acting Assistant Director, Captain Chinonso Oteh, warned land grabbers and encroachers to stay away from its barracks.
The brigade also expressed concern over the activities of some community leaders, particularly the Enogie, who the army, said had continued to encourage the encroachment on barracks land.
