By Eben Enasco
Indigenes of Edo State Communities have revolted against the State Government’s alleged decision to acquire and cede their lands to some investors without the consent of the people.
They claimed since the decision, taken by the state government to acquire their ancestral land and cede it to investors, the people have viewed it as a subtle way of telling them to go into extinction.
At a gathering on Thursday in Benin City, a Coalition Against Land Grabbing & Deforestation (CALD0, supported by Okpamakhin Community Initiative, said they have resolved to take back their lands.
The Coordinator, and founder of Okpamakhin Community Initiative, Comrade Tony Era, at a press conference today said that spanning over 10 years they have conducted 28 protests to draw government attention but all fell on deaf ears.
He said they have instituted a case billed for hearing at the ECOWAS court and other lower courts with the hope that justice will be delivered.
Comrade Era maintained that, despite the cases now at ECOWAS Court, the people have been subjected to hardship and denied access to Agricultural produce.
He urged the people to consider voting for the right people ahead of the state House of Assembly to liberate them from untold hardships.
Curtis Ogbebor, who also added his voice on behalf of the Evbuesi Community in the Orhionmwon Local Government Area claimed his people are currently facing similar situations.
He condemned the deforestation of reserves meant for the people which he said, play pivotal roles in environmental and health reservations within the communities.
Ogbebor urged the government to reconsider the decision, stressing that governments at all levels are meant to hold land in trust for the people citing section one of the land use act, for his claims.
