joshua
———–as ijaws in Iko community attack, Kill and Burn their houses.
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
The Obazuwa Community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State has called on the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, Benin monarch, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba Ewuare II, Oba of Benin Kingdom to come to their rescue as Ijaw settlers in Obazuwa Community have carried out war in their community, by killing and burning their houses.
The call was made by the community people at the Obazuwa Community Town Hall in Ovia North-East local government area of Edo State.
Addressing newsmen, the Odionwere of the Community, Pa. Aimuamwenosa Oyemwense, said that since the existence of Obazuwa Community, they have never experience any conflict with neighbouring communities.
“What we are experiencing in our community today is something that is baffling us. The people who we allowed as settlers (Ijaws) in Iko Community who are Uzon have taken over Obazuwa Community. They have driven our people away from the community.
The Ijaw settlers in Iko Village unleashed terror on Obazuwa Community on Friday Morning, and repeated the same attack in the evening at about 6.00pm burning houses and killing the 2nd in command of the Elders in the Community , Pa William Amuawosa
as well as injuring the Odionwere, Pa Roland Agidi who is now hospitalized in a critical stage.
” Our men and women have been driving into the bush by these Ijaws. They came shooting and setting fire on houses in the community.
” We are now hiding in the bush,
We are appealling to the governor Godwin Obaseki, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba Ewuare II, Oba of Benin Kingdom to kindly rescue us from the Ijaws from Ikoro, who are hell bent in wiping out Obazuwa Community.
Also Speaking with the Nigerian Post, Sunday Ohenhen, who is laying critically ill in one of the private hospital , said, I was in front of my house, when I saw Ijaw boys in a Sienna car fully loaded.
They moved to the junction of our boundary with Igan Community, and blocked the road arresting any youth who is going or coming from Obazuwa community.As a member of the Vigilantes in my community, I went to.meet them to find out what was happening.
Immediatly I got there, they pounce on me and the other people who
were with me. I even phone the Control Room of the Police Headquater to come to our aid. They hit me with iron on.my head knocked me down and started beating me till I passed out. I was shocked to find my self at the hospital.
” They took my #150,000 , phones I hard in my possession. I am a contractor.
One of the victims, who was left with a broken leg, Ohuwoma Osewengie, said, “I was coming from Barrack to Obazuwa , when I met the Ijaw people blocked the road . The Ijaw People with their Vigilantes ,they immediatly held me and said, you are from Obazuwa community, you people are the ones disturbing us, telling people that we are selling Oba land.”
Reacting to the attack, the President-Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) Worldwid
Elder Comrade Curtis Eghosa Ugbo,
said, the Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) Worldwide , said, ” we rejects the gruesome attack on our Benin brothers and sisters in Obazuwa Community and we call on the Edo State Government led by Governor Godwin Obaseki and all Security Agencies to immediately get those identified to be involved in this crime to justice!!!
” We will no longer continue to fold our hands and watch unscrupulous elements kill our Benin brothers and sisters in cold blood; We may result to self help if nothing is done to correct these animals in our Kingdom.
Our hospitality should not be taken as weakness, for nobody have monopoly of attack and killing. A word is enough for the wise!!!
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Kontongs Bello said, “I have not be briefed, as soon as I receive report from Evbuotubu Divisional Police Headquarters, l will get back to you, the press.
End.
