Five Land Owners Arrested Protesting Demolition By Edo Govt

By Lucky Isibor

Security operatives Thursday arrested five persons from Oke-Oroma community at the premises of the National Museum in Benin City, who were protesting over the demolition of their properties by the Edo State government.

One of the protesters who spoke to newsmen said a combined team of security agencies made up of Department of State Security Service (DSS) and policemen stormed the venue of their protest with three hilux vehicles full of personnel, two prado Jeeps, Armoured Tank and Machine guns after the protest.

The source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the protesters were in the museum premises to round off the protest when the security agencies swooped on them.

He said the five persons include one Comrade Ojo Collins and four others adding they're yet to know where the  arrested persons were taken to.

The  people of Oke-Oroma community as well as land developers in the area had earlier Thursday morning, took to the streets to protest against the demolition of their properties and alleged forceful annexation of their land by the state government.

Besides the indigenes and victims of the demolition, traditionalists also took part in the peaceful protest in the midst of security agencies watch.

The traditionalists cladded in red attires, carried clay pot filled with substances and a chicken to add impetus to the seriousness of the protest.

It was gathered that the shrines of the traditionalists located in the community were taken over by the government.

The protest climaxed at the ministry of Housing, Urban and Regional Planning, and Development as well as the ministry of Justice.

The protest, however, resulted to gridlock around the ever busy Ovorawmen square, popularly known as Ring road, Airport road, Sapele road as well as the adjoining streets.

Speaking during the protest, Madam Inibokun Monday, Mr Terry Ilevbare, Monday Edo Omorogiuwa and Comrade Emmanuel Aigbogun, Public Relations Officer, Talakawa Parliament accused the Edo State government of contempt of court.

They alleged that an Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City and presided over by Hon. Justice Vestee Eboreime had on August 4, 2022 restrained the state government and its agents from taking possession of their disputed land pending the determination of the substantive suit.

While lamenting that the state government who is supposed to obey the rule of law now acting contrary, noted that the government cannot be a judge in their own case.

The protesters who added that the community had been existing for the past 2000 years, urged the state government to produce the documents for acquisition of the 1229 hectares of their land.

The protesters however, vowed not to end the protest against the demolition and the alleged forceful annexation of their land until justice is done.

Recall that the State Government had November 2, 2022 revealed that land grabbers allegedly collected over N1.5billion from their preys in the last two years.

The Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon Chris Nehikhare ,who  gave the revelation at a press conference told newsmen that the information was obtained from 499 people who are victims of land grabbing that came for data capturing and enumeration.

Nehikhare said the money was collected from the victims by the land grabbers between 2020 and 2022.

He, however, disclosed that the victims of the land grabbing will be restituted from whatever it was able to get from the land grabbers especially from the N1.5billion.

The commissioner added that the names of those identified will soon be announced, charged to court and prosecuted.