Tipper Drivers Association in Edo state has given the Chief Priest of Okhuoromi community in Oredo Local Government Area of the the state, Ovbokhan Igbinovia, seven days ultimatum to return landed properties bought by its members and individuals.

While briefing newsmen at the association head office on Monday in Benin City, the state capital, chairman of the association, Comrade Austin Uhunmwangho said if the state government, Oba of Benin and concern authorities fail to prevail on the Chief Priest to return landed properties the association will be left with no choice than to withdraw it’s services across the state.

He said, “The Chief Priest collected my land including that of my members, he destroyed our buildings. Buildings that was up to roofing level, all went down the drain, just like that”.

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“We are not the only victim of this whole evil act, you can see some other persons here. We have taken it upon ourselves to liberate others even while we fight for our rights.

“What we want is our land, we don’t want any other thing. Our members land and all the victims of circumstances, their properties must be returned back to them.” (sic)

“We have gotten over fifty petitions with evidences of houses that have been demolished. The state government and the Benin palace should intervene. We are giving the Chief Priest seven days ultimatum or declare total shot down of services across the entire state.”

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Comrade Uhunmwangho noted that action of the community chief priest is worst than that of the disbanded Community Development Association, CDA whose activities were retrogressing development in the kingdom.

“It will be better we reverse to the days/era of CDA though it has been outlawed by the state government and by the Benin Monarch.”

Also speaking, Mrs Amete Joy, one of the victims whose property was collected, said all efforts to recover her land was unsuccessful even when she stayed at the Chief Priest house gate for days.

“He destroy my building with three self contains, the remaining building materials available were seized. When I bought that land we starved for days just to pay for the land” she said.

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The Ohen, Chief Priest, Ovbokhan Igbinovia had accused the association chairman of pucknosing into an affair that he was never invited with the motive of satisfying his sidechic.

He said Comrade Uhunmwangho and his members did not buy any landed property from authorities of the community.

Elders of Oko-oroma community in Ikpoba- Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, Friday, called on the people of Amagba community in Oredo local of the state to obey the decision of the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II .

Speaking on behalf Oko-Okoma , the youth leader of the community, Prince Osaretin Emokpae, told journalists in Benin that the Oba has declared that Oko-Oroma or Agor Emokpae is not under Obagie-Nevbosa neither is it under Amagba.

Emokpae said the verdict of the Benin monarch is sacrosanct and should be final as it relates to issues bothering on boundary dispute in the kingdom.

He said the statement of the Oba stemmed from the prolonged boundary dispute between the people of Oko-Oroma and Amagba who have bent on laying claim on their land but the monarch in his wisdom said Okoroma or Agor Emokpae is not under Obagie-Nevbosa neither is it under Amagba but that everybody should go and maintain peace and order.

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According to him, “After the fight and the killings between Oko-Okoma and Amagba, we went to the palace, Oba Ewuare II, gave a verdict and said that Oko-Oroma is a large community.

“Amagba people used to call us Agor Emokpae, and all villages started from Agor.

“So, Oko-Oroma is a large community. It took its name from Oroma village, Oke-Oroma.

“So, after that fight in February 2020, the Oba Ewuare II said Oko-Oroma or Agor Emokpae is not under Obagie-Nevbosa neither is it under Amagba but that everybody should go and maintain peace and order. 

“So, we all went home, to maintain peace but the people of Amagba did not allow us to have rest”, Emokpae he added.

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Prince Emokpae said that in order to mislead the public, the people of Amagba have gone about displaying document claiming that the monarch has ruled in their favour and that the disputed land belongs to them, saying it is not true.

“They came about some days back with a fake paper, that Oba has given them a fresh verdict that they are now the custodian of Oroma village.

“So, they came and started fighting us, flying paper around that the Oba has given them fresh verdict.

“We have gone to the palace to check, nothing like that, Oba has not said anything like that.

“There is no fresh judgement yet, Oba said everybody should maintain status quo,” he said.

He explained that, “Oroma river is the natural boundary and that everybody should maintain status quo and Amagba people refused to maintain the natural boundary.

“They crossed their Oredo local government area to Ikpoba-Okha local government area.

“So, we want the general public to know that the papers they are flying saying that the Oba has given them verdict, that it is a lie”, he said.

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In reaction, the acting Chief Press Secretary to Oba Ewuare said the Oba Ewuare has not given fresh verdict.

The two communities are in different local government Area which are Oredo and Ikpoba-Okha of the state.

The Governor Godwin Obaseki-led adminstration in Edo State on Saturday said it has approved the revocation of South Uneme in Etsako East Local Government Area of the state owing to the ‘persistent violent communal clashes which have claimed several lives in the community.”

Government special announcement signed by the Secretary to the State Government Barr. Osarodion Ogie said, “the State Government has also withrawn the appointment of HRH Benjamin Ikani as the Oliola of Uzanu clan of South East Uneme with immediate effect.

According to the statement issued, the government’s action is “predicated on the incessant and flagrant disregard to peace agreement and government’s directive to maintain peace in Uzanu community and it’s environs by the Oliola.

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Earlier, the Deputy Governor of the state, Comrade Philip Shaibu had threatened that the Edo State Government would be forced to issue arrest warrant on Prince Clem Agba, Minister of State for Budget Planning over his role in fanning the ember of war within communities in the state.

Comrade Shaibu stated this in an earlier enlarged meeting between waring communities where the Uzanu leadership reportedly displayed outright disdained to abide by government’s position on the communal dispute as they reportedly threatened to cause unrest in the state. This forced government to come out with a lasting solution on the issue.

Trouble started early in the year when Igiode community accused the Minister of State for Budget, Prince Clem Agba who is from Uzanu clan of removing government beacon demarcation and trespassed deep into Igiode land.

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The action of Clem Agba was predicated to undermine government earlier white paper issued two years ago on the adjustment and demarcation of the boundaries which once restored peace and normalcy.

With the dissolution of Uzanu clan, the Uzanu village has been returned under the leadership of HRH George Egabor the Okumagbe of Uwanno kingdom as the office of Oliola no longer exists .