BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
The crisis in Ugbineh Community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, continues to worsen despite a clear directive from the Palace of the Oba of Benin.
The Oba’s Palace through its Dispute Resolution Committee had last April urged both elders and youths in the community to disregard the purported removal of the Community Youth Leader, Mr. Dominic Edobor, by the village head (Odionwere) Pa. Jackson Usiobaifo Osayande, and maintain the status quo in the overall interest of peace, stability and development.
However, our crime correspondent gathered that certain individuals in the community have disregarded the Oba’s efforts hiring armed thugs to escalate the situation, resulting in the displacement of some of the elders, injuries of youths and wanton destruction of private property, while women and children have been made vulnerable as tensions mount in the Community.
Among those displaced are Pa. Gius Osarenmwinda, the community’s second-in-command (deputy Odionwere), and Pa. Alfred Agbonedeso, the Ugbineh Chief Priest. Both are said to be currently seeking refuge outside their ancestral homes.
The worst-hit by the violence is Mr. Dominic Edobor, whose private investments, including a sawmill, have been severely damaged.
According to sources, despite numerous arrests, recovery of sophisticated arms and multiple petitions filed with the police and other security agencies, the crisis persists.
It was gathered that one of the significant challenges is the local police outpost, which is said to have failed in its responsibility to restore peace.
Reports suggest that some of the perpetrators may have infiltrated the Ugbineh Police Outpost, resulting in biased actions where victims are treated as criminals while the perpetrators receive police backing.
It was further scooped that these individuals are also involved in the illegal sale of community land, using forged documents to deceive unsuspecting buyers, without approval from the elders.
In an interview with Mr. Dominic Edobor and his lawyer, Barr. Benjamin Akhabue Iluobe, they described the root cause of the crisis as the illegal removal of Mr. Edobor as the Okaighele (Youth Leader) by the village head, Pa. Jackson Usiobaifo Osayande.
It was gathered that the decision was made unilaterally by the Odionwere, without the consent of the other three elders who typically make community decisions together. This led to division in the community, with some choosing to support Pa. Jackson’s decision while others sided with Mr. Edobor Dominic.
“The genesis of the crisis in Ugbineh Community is the illegal removal of the youth leader (Okaighele) Mr. Dominic Edobor by the village head (Odionwere) Pa. Jackson Usiobafo Osayande without the approval of the other three elders who he usually sits together to take decisions.
“What really happened was that Mr. Dominic had quarrel with the Odionwere Pa. Jackson’s son who had gone to sell a piece of land without the consent of the Community. When Mr. Dominic reported the matter to the father at the Community meeting, the old man was not happy with his son.
“You could see in the video where the Odionwere son was met to kneel down and was begging and he was told to return the money. After that they went home and the Odionwere and his son met and he singlehandedly removed Mr. Dominic Edobor from power as the Okaighele, that was last January. This decision did not go down well with the reasonable members of the Community like the three elders did not agree with him”, he explained.
According to Barr. Iluobe the Community wrote to the Palace to dissociate themselves from the Odionwere’s decision. It was also said that the Palace invited all parties and having heard from them immediately reversed the removal of Mr. Dominic Edobor and urged the community to maintain the status quo.
“They went back to the Community, instead of obeying the palace decision they ostracized the three elders and Mr. Dominic Edobor, they cannot enter the Community, there have been several assaults on them. All attempts to enter the Community have been met with resistance from youths led by the Odionwere’s son one Gabriel Usiobaifo”, Barr. Iluobe stated.
On what has led to the ongoing Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) investigation and arrest in the crisis-ridden Ugbineh Community Barr. Iluobe said it has to do with the falsification of the Community documents.
“Ordinarily the Community has an approval which they use for sales of land, that approval has the name of the Odionwere, the three elders, Mr. Dominic and Secretary. Without their signatories, no land transaction can be made in that Community.
“But on their own, they have gone to produce another document for sales of land, so the Odionwere son who is not the Secretary to the Community is now signing as the secretary. Different persons are now selling land in the Community, so that is why FIB from Abuja has to come in to investigate that forgery, that is different from what is happening in the Community”, Barr. Iluobe maintained.
Also, Mr. Dominic Edobor while clarifying a media report he described as misleading, commended Shehu Garuba-led team of FIB for professional manner he handled the arrest of two siblings Usiobaifo Gabriel and Iyoha Sunday over alleged forgery of the Community elders documents and signatures to sell land to unsuspecting buyers.
“The case for Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) is different from that of FIB. SWAT is investigating a case of destruction of property, arms importation and act of terror being committed in Ugbineh community while FIB is addressing a case of forgery committed against the elders. FIB case does not concern me, it’s a pure case of elders who feel their right have been violated.
“For SWAT, the suspects have made confessional statements to the police so that has to be charged accordingly. Their lawyer Barr. Olaiwola Afolabi is aware and at the meeting with the CP, he begged that he would ensure his clients pay damages for destruction and write an undertaking to stop further destruction in Ugbineh Community.
“To our greatest surprise, Barr. Afolabi has turned around to be defending those committing all levels of destruction and terror in Ugbineh Community. I am appealing to the government and relevant authorities to call Barr. Afolabi and his clients to order for peace to reign in Ugbineh”, Mr. Dominic stated.
Mr. Dominic cited a recent case in which few hours after Barr. Afolabi allegedly facilitate the bail of Usiobaifo Gabriel and Iyoha Sunday from FIB custody, Gabriel Usiobaifo allegedly went to the Community and assaulted two farmers for daring to enter their own farms to harvest cassava tubers without permission of the Community head (Odionwere).
“Look at what happened yesterday (Thursday, 6th December 2024), some persons they granted bail in Abuja few days ago went to Ugbineh and started beating people for going to their farms”, he stated.
In his response, Barr Olayiwola Afolabi defended his actions, stating that as a lawyer, he is merely fulfilling his professional duties. He suggested that if Mr. Edobor had an issue with his representation, he could address it personally.
“If he said I am aiding crisis in Ugbineh by representing my clients, he has a lawyer, let him write me personally, then I will be able to reply him, I am doing my professional job”, he said.
However, Usiobaifo Gabriel and Iyoha Sunday accused of forgery and escalating the crises in Ugbineh could not be reached for comment at press time.
Contacted, the Public Relations Officer for Edo State police Command SP Moses Joel Yamu said he had not been briefed on the crisis in Ugbineh Community but assured to get the facts and update our correspondent within this week.
As tensions in Ugbineh Community continue to rise, all eyes remain on the government and security agencies to take decisive action to restore peace and ensure justice for those affected by the ongoing violence.
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