From our news desk, Benin
Odionwere Edosa Imafidon Okhionkpawonyi Obazee
The Odionwere, elders and people of Isibor Ewuare village in Egor local government area, have debunked the claim of boundary violation and forceful possession of land made against them recently, by the people of Iguotor village in Ovia North East local government area; all in Edo State.
The Odionwere, Mr Edosa Imafidon Okhionkpawonyi Obazee while debunking the allegation, said the land in question belongs to the people of Isibor Ewuare village.
He explained that in 2007, the Oba mediated on the boundary disagreement between Isibor Ewuare and Iguoto villages.
Consequently, the demarcation was made by the Avbiogbe (Chiefs) in presence of both the people of Isibor Ewuare and Iguotor with ikhimwin a (Nim tree) planted, and a road created named after Oba Erediauwa; serving as the boundary.
But in flagrant disobedience to the Oba's resolution, the people of Iguoto village, went using bulldozer to remove the Nim tree which serves as the boundary demarcation, and entered forcefully into a portion of Isibor Ewuare's land claiming it to be the boundary, Odionwere Obazee continued.
"Isibor Ewuare took them to court on the issue and the paper they were parading in court was alleged to have been produced by a panel from the Palace but the one Isibor Ewuare tendered, was pronouncement by the Oba and not any panel".
He asserts that the court (High court 8) gave judgement in favour of Isibor Ewuare, while the presiding judge fined the people of Iguotor village the sum of N20 million for damages.
This is as the Court upheld the earlier resolution of the Oba, which stated that 200ft to their oguedion (Ancestors' sanctuary) is for the people of Isibor Ewuare.
"We were surprised to hear in the news by the people of Iguotor that Isibor Ewuare people brought bulldozer to forcefully claim their land.
"We want to let the public know that it was not Isibor Ewuare people who brought caterpillar to work on the said land, rather it was the owner and it was also in the presence of the people of Iguoto, they even joined in safe guarding the caterpillar while at work."
He added, that surprisingly after a month the people of Iguotor went on air, also petitioned the AIG, Police Zone 5, and others that the people of Isibor Ewuare have forcefully taken over their land, which is totally false.
"We are therefore appealing to the Palace of Benin to call both Isibor Ewuare and Iguotor people to find who actually brought the caterpillar.
"Or is it that they do not want to obey the court judgment or the resolution of the Oba? The 20 million naira fine against them by the court they have refused to pay, they said they are going to take appeal on the judgment by the court but we did not see the appeal up till this day, we have not been served any paper."
Odionwere Obazee however reaffirmed that isibor Ewuare village is not under Iguotor neither Evbuotubu villages, as being wrongly alleged pointing out that Iguotor is in Ovia North East local government area while Isibor Ewuare is in Egor local government area and every village is autonomous; on its own.
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