BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Benin City, Nigeria – The palace of the Oba of Benin has said that land grabbing in Benin City and environs has attained alarming proportions insisting that the practice must stop forthwith.
The palace therefore enjoined the state government, corporate bodies and individuals to step up the fight against land grabbing and grabbers.
The Benin Traditional Council stated this during a press conference to clarify the issue surrounding the recent incident involving alleged demolition of houses at Ukhiri village in Ikpoba-Okha local government area of Edo State.
The press briefing took place at the Oba Palace in Benin City, today August 31, 2022.
Reading a document titled “Benin Traditional Council Public Announcement,” the Aiwerioba of Benin kingdom, Chief Henry Osato Bazuaye said individuals and corporate owners of vacant land in Benin City and environs often see their property encroached upon and sold off by unscrupulous Community leaders.
“The land grabbers sell other people’ land knowing full well their action is illegal. Worst still, the purchasers are also often aware they are purchasing other peoples’ land illegally.
“The land grabbers and the illegal purchasers argue that once a structure is hurriedly erected on the illegally acquired property, the Palace of the Oba of Benin forbids such property to be brought down.
“For this reason, the practice of grabbing and developing other peoples’ property has reached such an unacceptable dimension. This must stop”, the palace insisted.
The Oba Palace stated that the case of land grabbing was taken to unprecedented heights in Ukhiri village, hence, the palace had to stop the impunity.
“The community leader, the Enogie of Ulegun physically attacked the neighbouring community of Ukhiri and annexed their lands.
“The Enogie of Ulegun and his community youths then proceeded to sell off land of other people and corporate bodies located in Ukhiri including land that is known to belong to the Palace.
“It should be noted that several parcels of land belonging to the palace have been taken over by land grabbers.
“The recent incident at Ukhiri happened because of the impunity of the Enogie and Youths of Ulegun and the illegal buyers who typically built up structures hurriedly to avoid the law”, the palace noted.
The Palace while condemning land grabbing said it is akin to domestic terrorism and kidnapping even as it enjoined the public to peacefully resist domestic terrorism in any guise.
Today’s press conference was intended for clarification following a viral video and report of alleged demolition of houses in Ulegun community.
According to a report from the office of the Senior Media Adviser to Governor Obaseki, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, Indigenes of Ulegun Community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State led a protest to the state house on Monday, where they allegedly indicted the Secretary of Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor and other chiefs in the illegal demolition of over 80 houses in their community.
They were also reported to have called for the urgent intervention of the government to end what they termed intimidation, harassment and total disregard for the rule of law.
The community was also reported to not only protest the alleged demolition of several houses in their community, but the alleged arrest and maiming of their Village Head (Enogie), Sunday Eghosasere Omoregie, and the community’s Chief Priest (Ohen), Philip Uwuoroya, by a group of chiefs, allegedly led by Frank Irabor.
The protesters were said to be made up of land developers, women, leaders and youths in the community, among others.
It quoted the Secretary of Ulegun Community, Peter Aigbe, as calling on Governor Godwin Obaseki to immediately step in and assist affected members of the community to seek justice.
He explained that the land rightly belongs to the Ulegun Community, adding, “Our community has always won every case regarding the land since 1974. From the palace of Oba Akenzua, down to the High Court, Appeal and Supreme Courts.”
The report also quoted Irabor, as saying the land belonged to the Oba of Benin, while speaking to a local radio station in his reaction to the demolition.
According to the report, the Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha, who received the protesters appealed for calm, promising speedy investigation and prosecution of culpable persons.
Obaseki intervenes
Edo State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro on Tuesday, ordered the release of the Village Head (Enogie) of Ulegun Community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, Sunday Eghosasere Omoregie, and the community’s Chief Priest (Ohen), Philip Uwuoroya.
According to a report from the media office of the Obaseki administration,
their release was facilitated by the state government, following the protest by residents of the community on Monday.
Land Grabbing Allegation: Frank Irabor debunks media reports
Frank Irabor, the Secretary, Benin Traditional Council has debunked the malicious, defamatory and misleading information in the social media that he (Secretary) has been arrested and taken to the Edo State Criminal Investigative Department in Benin city over alleged land grabbing for interrogation.
In a statement personally signed and made available to the NIGERIAN OBSERVER yesterday, Irabor said he was never arrested talk less of being detained at the criminal investigative department of the state police command over the afore-mentioned issue.
The Secretary said: “Normally, I would not have bothered to utter a single word, but for reasons of clarification and putting the record in its proper perspective, I have decided to respond accordingly.”
Continuing, he stated that he had never been involved in any land grabbing saga, adding that the real land grabbers have never been comfortable with his (secretary) stand against land grabbing in the Benin Kingdom.
“Those that concocted this false publication are social media miscreants and should be ignored in its entirety, as I remained committed to the services of the great Oba of the great Benin kingdom, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Ukpu Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II.” he asserted.
