… Protesters Cry To Ancestors For Help, Slaughter Live Chicken, Dance Round Clay Pot, Recite Incantations.

Five persons among land owners in Oke-Oroma community who on Thursday protested over the demolition of their properties by the Edo State Government were arrested by security operatives at the premises of the National Museum in Benin City.

The protesters include masquerade, traditionalists and other land owners in the community.

One of the protesters who spoke to newsmen, said combined team of security agencies made up of Department of State Security Service (DSS), policemen stormed the venue 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 stormed on them.

READ ALSO:‘Don’t Send Any Priest To Us’, Oke-Oroma Community Pleads To Oba Of Benin

Our source who said the five persons include one Comrade Ojo Collins and four others, lamented that they were yet to know where the arrested persons were taken to.

Masquerades, Traditionalists Protest

INFO DAILY reports that the people of Oke-Oroma community as well as land developers had earlier in the morning took to the streets to protest against the demolitions of their properties and alleged forceful annexation of the land by the state government.

Besides the indigenes and the 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 an impetus to the seriousness of the protest; masquerades were also not left out in the protest.

It was gathered that the traditionalists and the masquerades were said to be victims of the demolition, too.

It was further 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 Justices where the traditionalists with barehand slaughtered live chicken, danced round the clay pot and recite some incantations.

The traditionalists called on their ancestors to come to their aid, and fight those allegedly taking over their ancestral lands from them

The protest, however, resulted to gridlock around the ever busy Ovorawmen Square, popularly knowns as Ring Road, Airport Road, Sapele Road as well as the adjoining streets.

Protesters Accuses Edo Govt Of Contempt Of Court

Speaking during the protest, Madam Inibokun Monday, Mr Terry Ilevbare, Monday Edo Omorogiuwa accused the Edo State government of contempt of court.

READ ALSO: Oke- Oroma, Amagba Impasse: AIG Sues For Peace, Sets To Investigate Alleged Murder, Incessant Invasion

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

While lamenting that state government who is supposed to obey the rule of law now acting contrary, they noted that the government cannot be a judge in its 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 accused the state commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of not properly advising the state government on the implications of contempt of court.

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

Edo Govt Says Land Grabbers Collect Over N1.5bn

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

READ ALSO: Land Developers Threaten To Sue Edo Govt. Over Demolitions

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 grabbers that came for data capturing and enumeration.