BREAKING NEWS OBAYANTOR I COMMUNITY CRIES OVER THREAT TO KILL, INVADE, MAIM COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH DANGEROUS WEAPONS BY EKINAYE OF OBAGIE COMMUNITY, CALLS ON HRM, OBA EWUARE II, GOVERNOR OBASEKI, IGP, DSS URGENT INTERVENTION

 

BY LEO EZEKIEL

The Elders of Obayantor I of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Benin City, Edo State have called on the Omo O' Noba Ewuare II, Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, Inspector General of Police, Department of State Services urgent intervention  to stop one Festus Ekinaye Edegbe, Osamudiame Ohonbamu of Obagie Community who have allegedly boasted to high heavens of having concluded plans to attack Obayantor I Community over boundary disputes that have originally been resolved by the elders of both communities. 

Addressing newsmen in Obanyantor I Community in Benin City on behalf of members of the community, Elder Godwin Ikponwonsa Aghimie recalled that in 2016, elders of Obagie and Obayantor I Communities had a boundary dispute which was later adjusted amicably, but that he taken aback when in 2022, an elder in Obagie, Mr. Ekinaye Edegbe started raising issues that the boundaries were not adjusted in his presence and thus, it must be readjusted. According to him, majority of the elders from Obagie Community disagreed with Ekinaye Edegbe and insisted that the boundaries had been adjusted already, but, for peace to reign, both communities elders agreed to carry out the adjustment again under an oath. 

“Interestingly, the representatives of Obanyantor I Community led by Mr. Daniel Izevbezu swore to an Oath affirming that the boundaries and the land is belonging to Obayantor I and Obagie Community and thereafter Peace was restored to the communities”. Worried by the recent threat from Mr. Ekinaye Edegbe and Osamudiame Ohonbamu who are still using the boundary issues between Obagie and Obayantor as a legal ground to threaten to kill, invade, and maim members of Obayantor I Community with sophisticated weapons and dangerous ammunitions in their possession, elder Aghimie noted that due to the threats, members of Obayantor I Community are already in disarray, fear of being killed at any time, thereby denying them the rights to their lives.

Elder Aghimie further appeal to Governor Obaseki in line with his mandate to secure the lives of his Citizens to please deploy measures in place that in Obayantor I that will help checkmate the activities of these men who are bent on attacking the Community with dangerous weapons over boundary disputes that have been resolved on oath by the both Communities. 

“In his words it is clear that Mr. Ekinaye Edegbe actions should not be swept under the carpet as same are frowned at by the extant laws of the land, I therefore appeal to you as the executive Governor of Edo State that swift measures should be put in place to protect our lives from these persons as required of you in the circumstance”. “Members of Obayantor I Community are law abiding citizens and is desirous of justice as the action of the said Mr. Ekinaye Ededgbe and his cohorts are likely to breach the peace of both Community. All efforts made to reach Mr. Ekinaye Edegbe proved abortive.