FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Hundreds of youths from Amagba Adolor community in Oredo Local Government Council yesterday protested at the Edo State Government House and the palace of the Oba of Benin over the alleged takeover of their community by perceived strangers.
The protesters led by the (Odionwere) Head of Amagba Adolor community, Pa Joseph Iduoyekemwen, stormed the Government House and the Oba’s palace to register their displeasure over the illegal takeover of their ancestral land by Okoroma people.
Iduoyekemwen said they are protesting because part of Amagba Adolor community, popularly known as Emokpae camp, which they now call Okoroma community, has been taken over by a group of strangers living with Amagba people.
Leader of the protesters noted that the once peaceful Amagba Adolor community is threatened should Okoroma people who settled in their community years ago, now claim ownership of their lands.
He said Okoroma community is and remains a camp called ‘Emokpae Camp’ in Amagba Adolor community and not ‘Okoroma’, adding that the Benin Traditional Council, BTC, has no community called Okoroma.
A youth leader in Amagba Adolor community, Mr Osasu Monday, who corroborated the position of the Odionwere, lamented that Okoroma people are not the owners of the land, but were settlers in Amagba Adolor community.
Osasu called on Governor Monday Okpebholo and the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, to intervene to forestall the breakdown of law and order in their community.
They appealed to the monarch to address the lingering land ownership, adding that a clear demarcation of the boundaries between the two communities would bring lasting peace.
“Despite the intervention of the palace, indigenes of Obagie N’ Evbuosa, now working hands in gloves with Ago Okoroma, have continued to unleash mayhem in the area by forcefully chasing our people out of the land with the help of fierce looking thugs armed with dangerous weapons.
“Your Majesty, we are aware that the governor has also waded into this matter by calling on the parties to eschew violence and tow the path of peace.”
They said, “It is our respectful view that this can only be achieved with the intervention of our revered monarch to define the boundary between Amagba Adolor and Obagie N’ Evbuosa communities once and for all.
Responding to the protesters at the Oba’s palace, Chief Isaac Oyeoba commended them for their peaceful demonstration.
He assured them that their grievances would be relayed to the Oba who would listen and address their concerns.