Obazuwa Sends SOS To EDSG, Benin Monarch Over Alleged Ikoro Invasion

By The9JaTREND

Consequent upon the alleged invasion of their village by some Ijaw residents in Ikoro Community, the elders and people of Obazuwa village in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, have called on the Edo State Government, Oba of Benin and security agencies to wade into what they considered as wantom destruction of life and property by the Ikoro people.

This is even as the people of Obazuwa have deserted the village over palpable fear of further attack as the Odionwere Pa. Agidi Roland, is scooped to be laying critically at an undisclosed hospital in Benin City.

8Ozukpogieva (2nd-in-command) Pa. Michael Igbinovia was gruesomely murdered by the alleged Ikoro invaders, just as domestic animals, vehicles and houses were not spared during the attack. 

Speaking with newsmen on the development, a native of Obazuwa who simply identified himself as Nosakhare Ohenhen, said that Ikoro has been inhabited over the years by the Benin people until 1987 when the Ijaw settlers allegedly drove the Benin away from the land.

He maintained that the Ijaws are not the owners of the land they are claiming, but settlers, adding that, Obazuwa village has no boundary with the Ijaws in the area.

"They have made series of attempt to invade Obazuwa even when we told them that we are peace-loving people.

"Suddenly last week here in Obazuwa, Ikoro people blocked our junction as some of the people were wearing vigilante shirts and started molesting our people and preventing them from entry Obazuwa.

"After we left the village for town that same day, Ikoro people invaded Obazuwa, burn our houses, killed our goats and also killed our Ozukpogieva (2nd-in-command) and destroyed our vehicles"

"We are appealing to the Edo State Government, Oba of Benin and the police to come to our aid", he said

The people of Osazuwa, however, denied attaching the Ijaws nor destroyed properties belonging to the people.

Another indigene of  Obazuwa, who spoke in confidence, said: “Ijaw people are claiming to be the owners of Obazuwa. We don’t know what we have done to them. They came to Obazuwa through the waterside, shooting at the indigenes of Obazuwa. They destroyed and burnt our houses, vehicles and other valuables. They have been disturbing us for a long time.

The Chairman, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Samuel Ebiwana, however, denied the allegations levelled against the Ijaw, claiming that they (the Ijaw) lost three persons to the attack by Benin youths, as many of his kinsmen were either injured or missing.

What could be considered as battle of supremacy between the two communities in Benin was rumoured to have been aided by some Indigenes of neighbouring Egbaen and Evbuolekpen  communities.

Personnel of the Nigerian Army with Hilux van was stationed a strategic point between the Osazuwa and Ikoro apparently to forestall peace.

The communal crisis if not properly checked could snowballed into killing fiestas in the affected communities as scooped by newsmen.