IKORO, OBAZUWA LAND DISPUTE: Attah Urges Obaseki To Urgently Resolve Crisis

"...We don't run for our fears, we face our fears" - Comrade Ebiwana

By The9JaTREND

The land dispute rocking the communities of Ikoro and Obazuwa may turn out to be blooding if urgent step is not taken by Edo State government to police the activities of both youths in the communities.

The aforementioned development was discovered when The9JaTREND visited Ikoroo Community recently under the invitation of the elders of the community in reaction to recent publication in one of Nigeria newspaper that Ikoro people are the setlers in Obazuwa community. 

Speaking to The9JaTREND, on behalf of Ikoro Community was Chief Edwin Attah. He spoke extensively on the way forward to solving the crisis between Ikoro and Obazuwa Communities.

"Ikoro is situated in Ovia North-East local government area of Edo State and has boundaries with Eghudu, Igbobi, Evbolekpen, Egban and Evboro Communities," Elder Attah explained.

According to him, "Ikoro is an ancient community and has been in existence since 18AD. Other naighbouring communities that has boundary and still leaving in harmony with Ikoro are Eghudu, Igbobi, Evbolekpen, Egban and Evboro Communities."

He wondered how Obazuwa people who came to beg for land to farm will continue to lay claim of Ikoro Community.

Chief Attah explained to The9JaTREND the origin of Ikoro Community. 

"Before 1910, all these naighbouring communities - Eghudu, Igbobi, Evbolekpen, Egban and Evboro Communities came into agreement with Ikoro Community not to do harm to each other. During the written of the agreement between the communities in 1910, Obazuwa was not in existence then, and l see no reason why Obozuwa people will continue to claim ownership of Ikoro community."

He added, "Chief Ezomon, from the palace of the Oba of Benin came with some labourers to farm for him in our community. He appealed to the then Olodiama Pere, (King of Olodiama Kingdom) to be granted piece of land to farm and the Olodiama Pere graciously obliged him.

"During the period of Chief Ezomon in Ikoro Community, Obazuwa and Ikoro were leaving in peace and harmony, and there was no discrimination until the death of Chief Ezomon when the then Oba of Benin approved Enogie for Obazuwa people that necessitated their claim of Ikoro Community."

Going further, Chief Attah said, "As Obazuwa people  continue to abuse the privilege granted them by Ikoro community,  they started erecting building, and continue to harass and intimidate our developers from erecting buildings. When Ikoro youth discovered that Obazuwa continue harassing Ikoro people from erecting  buildings, they went and resisted their act of harassment.

"As the news went viral and got to the Oba of Benin in Benin City, the Oba delegated Prince Adun Akenzua to go and mediate the land dispute between our Community (Ikoro) and Obazuwa people.

"After our chiefs briefed Chief Akenzua on the circumstances that led to the land dispute, he then moved to the naighbouring communities which are Eghudu, Igbobi, Evbolekpen, Egban and Evboro and was briefed exactly what we, the Ikoro Community told him.

"On his return from his facts finding mission, Chief Akenzua called Obazuwa Odionwere and told him what he was told and the Obazuwa Odionwere start to beg us."

Explaining to The9JaTREND how came the name Ikoro, Chief Attah said, "The name Ikoro originated from the founder of the Community.

"In the ancient time, we do trade by barter with Obazuwa people; they bring us food items and in return, we give them fish. We, the Ikoro community are not settlers. it is the Obazuwa people that are settlers in Ikoro Community," he emphasised.

Chief Edwin Attah further explain the connection between Ikoro and the Oba of Benin. 

"When the then Oba of Benin had conflict with the Benins, he ran to us (Ikoro community) to take shelter, and we accommodated him.  The Benins still traced him to Ikoro and it was when we heard of their coming that we faring the Oba down to Lagos. Those that accompanied the Oba of Benin to Lagos were Ogbrinkoto, Ashikpa, Kperewe and many other warriors from here, they fought war on their way at Ogun state.

"When they finally arrived Lagos, some of the warriors followed the Oba to go and settle the conflict with the Benins  (his people). One of the Warriors called Ashikpa decided to stay back in Lagos. Ashikpa who stayed back in Lagos is now the Obanikoro of Ikorodu in Lagos. You can now understand the origin of Obanikoro of Ikorodu. Obazuwa cannot come to our Ikoro community to lay claim, we won't allow that to happen, they are the settlers," Chief Attah opined.

Tenison Disemoh is another Chief in Ikoro Community. He also throw more light on the origin of Ikoro Community.

"Ikoro were the first community here. There was no other community along this Ose river, Ikoro is the head of Olodiama Clan.

"The Obazuwa people met us here. Even in 1910, Obazuwa has not come, they are the last community that came to settle along this Ikoro - Benin road.

"Ikoro primary school was founded in 1917. There were no other primary school in this area apart Ikoro primary school. So, automatically Ikoro has been in existing before the school was founded.

"Our church (Baptist Church) was founded in 1880. What that mean is that, if you are talking about those that are settlers, l think Obazuwa are the main settler here."

Going further, Chief Disemoh said,  "Only two schools in Benin that are senior to Ikoro primary school. It may also interest you to know that Ikoro primary school is No. 40 oldest primary schools in Nigeria, you can google or go to Ministry of Information to check.

"After the Portuguese invaded Benin. it was Ikoro community some of the Portuguese passed through, so, it was the Ikoro people that ferry them (the Portuguese) to Uwonton to take off. There is no other community that is senior to Ikoro in this part of the country. We are the owner of this place."

He added, "A Benin historian, Jacob Egharevba said the Ijaws were the first people that settled here. We have the first Baptist church here. From here they founded Emu Baptist church and Sapele Baptist church. Ikoro Baptist church was founded in 1880.

Eghudu, Igbobi, Evbolekpen, Egban and Evboro Communities know the history, Obazuwa are in our land, we cannot continue to have them harass and intimidate our people, we won't allow their harassment to continue," he opined.

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Chairman of Olodiama Clan in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, Comrade Sam Ebiwana also called on Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to urgently look into the dispute between Ikoro and Obazuwa Communities before the crisis generate security breach in the State.

He said, "In response to Obazuwa people saying vis-a-vis that Ijaws people are the settlers and tenants here, to me, l think your findings can attest to the fact that Ikoro are the rightful owner of this community.

"This Obazuwa have be beating drum of war, we have be telling the security agencies, Edo State governor to call them to order. Our quietness should not be taken for granted by Obazuwa people. We just want the law to take its course. But, if the issue is not resolve amicably and Obazuwa people still continue to harass our people and our developers, we will react. We don't run for our fears, we face our fears."

"So, the governor should urgently look into this issue before it will cost security breach in the state.

"Initially, we have the mind to resolve this issue in a round table discussion, but the so-called Obazuwa people are not even ready for dialogue, they felt that we are settlers and they don't have anything to discuss with us, that the land belong to them, that we should leave."

Speaking to The9JaTREND, a woman leader in the community, Mrs. Florence Ulitsemi said, "Obazuwa people came to meet us here. I am calling on Edo State Governor. Mr. Godwin Obaseki to beg Obazuwa people to leave us one, they should allow us to have peace, Ikoro is our own."

Mrs. Vero Afemi is an activist in the community. "Obazuwa people, who created this heaven and earth? The blood that run through the vein of Obazuwa people, is it different from the one they run through the vein of Ikoro people?" she asked.

"Help tell Obazuwa people to leave us alone, we don't look for trouble, we are peace loving people," she appealed.