Abuja – April 2, 2024 – Viewpoint Housing News.
Frightened residents of Oke-Oroma community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, have fled their homes for over one year, following recurrent attacks, and horror meted on them by the neighbouring Amagba community in Oredo Local Government Area of the state.
The people of Amagba, also known as Amagba-Erese, disputed the claim, saying that Oke-Oroma people were their tenants and aggressors.
When Governor Godwin Obaseki, in March 2020, acquired about 720 hectares of land around the Iyekogba area, in the outskirts of Benin City, the state capital, to build a new city, he did not know that the positive gesture, supposed to boost the economies of surrounding communities, would reopen old wounds.
To facilitate development, his administration constructed a road connecting Irhirhi, off Airport Road, to the Benin by-pass, by Sapele Road, and the road connected other communities like Aruogba, Okhoromi, Obazagbon, Obagienevbosa, Ogheghe, Ogbekpen, including Oke-Oroma.
The ceaseless boundary crisis between the two communities, which had led to loss of lives and property, had also defied resolution by the state government and Oba of Benin, and crippled development in the area.
The secretary of Oke-Oroma community, Monday Edo Omorogiuwa, who gave his community’s side of the story, said the first clash was in 2012 when the people of Amagba allegedly invaded them, causing an unprecedented mayhem.
He said the matter was brought before the Benin monarch, HRM Oba Erediauwa of blessed memory, who constituted a panel of chiefs, led by Chief Eduwu Ekhator, the then Obasogie of Benin Kingdom, to look into it.
“The Palace, thereafter, resolved on July 23, 2012 that the status quo be maintained with the natural feature of the Oroma River remaining the boundary between the two villages.
“On July 22, 2017, armed with dangerous weapons, Amagba people, again, invaded Oke-Oroma, killing the wife of one Isaac Momoh, who was shot dead, leaving behind many children.
“In 2018, Amagba people came with bulldozers to map out roads for layout, and sold portions of the land to unsuspecting developers.
“On Monday, March 26, 2018, they invaded Oke-Oroma armed with guns, machetes and other dangerous weapons. They repeated it on Friday, April 6, 2018 until Saturday, April 7, 2018 and as usual, wreaked untold havoc, killing and maiming their victims.
“On March 9, 2020, the people of Amagba-Erese launched a dastardly attack on Oke-Oroma armed with guns, and other dangerous weapons, leaving on their trail, wanton destruction of lives and valuable properties, including their Oguedion (place of elders).
“On February 15, 2023 when our antagonists, Amagba- Erese people, again launched a vicious attack on us; like the previous attacks, they wreaked a lot of havoc; destroying what remained of our properties, maiming and killing our defenseless people.
“Some of us talking today were only lucky to have been able to escape to safety as we were chased away, with guns and machetes.
“From that day in February, last year, until today, we have all deserted our native homes to seek refuge elsewhere for the fear of the unknown by the continued invasion by the people of Amagba-Erese.
“After chasing us away with guns and other dangerous weapons, they crossed the River Oroma, the natural boundary between us and mounted a sign-post with the inscription: Amagba Phase II’ claiming ownership of Oke-Oroma Village.”
“Whereas, both villages, earlier on February 27, 2020 had a peace meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, and signed an undertaking to refrain from continued violence; the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, A.l.G, Zone 5 Benin, the Palace of the Oba of Benin, and the Edo State Private Property Protection Committee, undertook similar interventions in the past,” he revealed.
The matter had been taken to court for adjudication, petitions backed with evidential documents written to the Police, Department of State Security, DSS, and even the military in Benin have been called upon to intervene.
The people of Oke-Oroma appealed to the Edo State Government, the Benin monarch, the Police, and all relevant authorities to help restore peace for the fleeing residents to return home.
