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By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
The people of Obazuwa Utugberu Community of Obazuwa Dukedom in Ovia North East Local government Area of Edo State, have sent Save Our Soul,( SOS), to the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki and His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare 11, Oba of Benin, to intervene in the unholy several deadly attacks by Ijaw extraction and settlers in Ikoro community.
The community made the call during a town hall meeting which took place at Obazuwa Utugberu Community.
The community Leaders which constits of the elders, women and the youths of the appealed to the Royal Majesty , Oba Ewuare 11 , and the governor, Godwin Obaseki to come to their rescue as they are being attacked on daily basis by the Ijaw settlers.
Obazuwa Utugberu Community complain of being displaced from their ancestral and their farm land.
,”We can no longer sleep in our houses, as continuous attacks by these Ijaw Strangers / settlers have become the order of the day.”
According to them, ” we are aware of the facts that they are settlers and strangers to our Dukedom and our kingdom respectively,
” Our non response to their several cowardly attacks to our community doesn’t make us weak or cowards because the strike of the gentle leopard is more deadly if pushed to the wall.”
They said, ” the 1983 judgement by the Supreme Court which was facilated by the Okay of Gelegele against these settlers in our land is also covering up to all the communities in our Dukedom.
” unscrupulous Ijaw Strangers and settlers are now selling our fertile Farm Lands to Land Grappers in our Dukedom without the proper approval of the Enogie, Odionwele and Elders of Obazuwa who are the representative of the Oba of Benin ( Oba Oba Ewuare 11), kingdom , ( who hitherto is the overload of all lands in Benin Kingdom).
They appealed to Omo no Oba, Oba Oba Ewuare 11, the Edo state government to look critically into this situations before it degenerates to unholy stage.
Also speaking, the Odionwele of Obazuwa Utugberu community, Octoganirian, Roland Oyemuse ,aka, Agidi, said, he has lived in the community since birth for the past 98 years. The Ijaws that are now taking our Lands came to settle with us. We allowed them to be with us as brothers and sisters, but now they have turned against us selling our farm lands without our knowledge.
” Our greatest sorrow is that they even went ahead to sell our Royal Majesty land in the community without our knowledge.
” We are appealing to our Royal Father, Oba Ewuare 11, the state governor, Goodwin Obaseki to come to our aid.”
Madam Atatikolo Igbinogun, vice woman leader in the community, appealed to Omo no Oba,Oba Ewuare 11, the state governor to please save them from these Ijaw settlers, who have driven them from their homes, adding that they can no longer go to farm or market.
Also adding his voice was the Okaighele of the community, Sunday Ohenhen, ” he said the Ijaw settlers/ strangers use guns to drive them from farm. The Ijaw settlers also sold the Royal Majesty land to one Mr Abu Yesufu without the knowledge of his community people.He appealed to Omo no Oba, Oba Ewuare 11 to rescue them from these Invaders.
