Abuja– February 2, 2024 – Viewpoint Housing News.
The Edo state commissioner for social development and gender, Christabel Ekwu, and the palace of Olojah of Ojah, His Royal Highness, Oba D. S. Lawani, were set on fire by angry youths, leaving the indigenous population and residents of the Ojah community in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State terrified.
The incident was allegedly carried out by young people upset about a long-standing custom of interment known as “sky burial,” which is purportedly mandated by a certain local shrine.
A local, who pleaded to remain anonymous, revealed that the burial entailed throwing the corpses into the hills around the hamlet or leaving them at the shrine.
Controversy began on Monday, according to the local, when a lady died. “After some findings, it was revealed, that she was killed by the shrine, so the community wanted to give the woman the sky burial,” the resident added.
But the traditional ruler and the commissioner, who had demanded that this ritual be phased out, were said to have invited security agents to thwart the woman’s sky burial, the source continued.The young people fought and stoned the security personnel during this procedure, and the latter withdrew. The commissioner’s house was totally burned down and the youths also torched down the traditional ruler’s palace, damaged it, and set fire to his SUV that was parked inside the grounds.
In the meantime, community leader and House of Assembly candidate Joy Akpaida encouraged the youths to put down their swords and denounced the arson in a statement released by the Okpameri Traditional Rulers Association.
“The leadership of Okpameri Traditional Rulers Association condemned in its entirety the wanton destruction of the palace of the Olojah of Ojah, Oba Lawani and the burning down of his vehicle as a result of internal disagreement in the community that is easily reconcilable,” the statement signed by the organization’s Secretary and Chairman, His Royal Highness, Oba Sule Idaiye and Victor Arogunyo, respectively, reads.
we also condemn the complete burning down of the honourable Mrs. Christabel Ekwu, Commissioner for Social Development and Gender Issues,’s home .
“Although we appreciate the proactive role and intervention of Tajudeen Alade, the Executive Chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government, and Dr. Kingsley Ekundayo, the Chairman of Okpameri Descendant Union, and his team, for their respective peace moves, we crave the indulgence and understanding of all critical stakeholders of Ojah community to continue to maintain peace and harmony, while OKPATRA consults with the relevant stakeholders in the local government, including the Akoko-Edo Traditional Rulers Council, to resolve all the conflicts in order to find a long-lasting solution as soon as possible.”
