••• As efforts for peace remain elusive
Kingsley Abavo (Managing Editor), Benin
Oke-Oroma Village in Ikpoba - Okha Local Government Council Area of Edo State is a suburb of the Capital City of Benin.
Though it wears a sub-urban status; the hitherto fast pace of development is hampered by unending violent crises, over ownership claims between her and neighbour; Amagba Erese Village.
Surprisingly, Amagba Village is in another Local Government Council Area; Oredo, separated from its immediate neighbour: Oke-Oroma by a natural feature of a river; which as usual serves as a boundary between them.
It therefore beats the imagination of as many people who care to bother; how two Villages bounded by the natural feature of a river become locked in an unending violent clash over ownership claim of the land; Oke-Oroma is situated.
Oke-Oroma which the people of Amagba Erese however say is a camp in their domain; now seemed to have become synonymous with unending tales of woes; tears, sorrow and blood (words borrowed from Fela Anikulapo Kuti of blessed memory).
The occupiers of Oke-Oroma led by the family of Emokpae laments that they have been sacked by the alleged incessant invasion, and terror mercilessly unleashed on them by its next door neighbour; Amagba in the claim of ownership of the land.
Through their secretary, Monday Edo Omorogiuwa, they narrates that the first clash was recorded in the year 2012 when the people of Amagba allegedly invaded them causing an unprecedented mayhem.
The matter was brought before the Benin Monarch, HRM Oba Erediauwa of blessed memory who constituted a panel of Chiefs led by Chief Eduwu Ekhator, the Obasogie of Benin Kingdom to look into it.
The Palace thereafter resolved on the 23 July, 2012 that the Status quo should be maintained with the natural feature of the Oroma river remaining the boundary between the two Villages.
Just as it was thought that the days of boundary dispute and violence were over with the Oba's resolution, on the 22 July, 2017, armed with dangerous weapons, Amagba people again invaded Oke-Oroma, he alleged.
In this attack, allegedly, the wife of one Isaac Momoh was shot dead, leaving behind many children.
This is as properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed including the 'Oguedion' (ancestral elders' sanctuary) of the people.
This was followed by the arrest of many persons on trump up charges and thrown into police detention until their bail was secured, Omorogiuwa said.
Not taking their foot off the pedal in the drive to annex Oke-Oroma Village under its authority, in 2018 Amagba people came with bulldozers to map out roads for layout and allegedly sold portions of the land to unsuspecting developers.
On Monday, 26 March, 2018, the war of total elimination was sustained as they invaded Oke-Oroma armed with guns, machetes and other dangerous weapons.
This invasion was repeated on Friday, 6 April, 2018 till Saturday, 7 April, 2018 and as usual, wreaking untold havoc, killing and maiming their victims.
Also, on the 9th of March, 2020, the people of Amagba Erese launched a dastardly attack on Oke-Oroma armed with guns, and other dangerous weapons, leaving on their trail, wanton destruction of lives and valuable properties, it was alleged.
In-spite of series of peace efforts right from the Palace of the Oba of Benin and which in some instances, peace accord was signed by the people on both sides including their legal counsel, the people of Amagba Erese continued their invasion, it was lamented.
"They want to dominate, they want to possess what is not theirs by force.
"The latest being on the 15th of February, 2023 when our antagonists; Amagba Erese people again launched a vicious attack on us.
"Like the previous attacks, they wreaked a lot of havoc; destroying what remains of our properties, maiming and killing our defenceless people.
"Some of us talking today were only lucky to have been able to escape to safety as we were chased away, with guns and machetes.
"From that day in February last year till today, we have all deserted our native homes to seek refuge elsewhere for the fear of the unknown by the continued invasion of the people of Amagba Erese.
"After chasing us away with guns and other dangerous weapons, they crossed the river Oroma; the natural boundary between us and mounted a sign-post written; 'Amagba Phase II' claiming ownership of Oke-Oroma Village", Omorogiuwa further alleged.
Whereas; the both Villages earlier on the 27 February, 2020 had a peace meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command and an undertaking to refrain from continued violence was duly signed.
On the 5 June, 2021 another peace accord meeting at the instance of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (A.l.G) Zone 5 Benin, held between the gladiators wherein again an undertaking to maintain the peace was signed by both parties including their legal counsel.
These efforts are apart from the resolution of the Palace of the Oba of Benin, and that of the Edo State Private Property Protection Committee.
The matter had been taken to court for adjudication, petitions backed with evidential documents written to the Police, Department of State Security (D.S.S) and even the military in Benin have been solicited to intervene.
Unfortunately, all of these have not yielded any positive fruit as Oke-Oroma continues to be under siege of ceaseless communal war; with the gladiators accusing each other of being victim of attack.
Compiling this story, our reporter sighted various documents duly signed, dated and provided by the people of Oke-Oroma to back their allegations. Same with the people of Amagba Erese Village.
They included a petition backed with a sworn affidavit by one Gaius Idusuyi Emokpae; addressed to the Edo State Private Property Protection Committee, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, and the D.S.S.
Also, a copy of petition to the Army in Benin, order of interlocutory court injunction, resolution of the Palace of the Oba of Benin, and peace accord undertakings duly signed and dated by both parties and their counsel.
While the people of Amagba Erese also displayed various documents which include a list of Enigie (Dukes) in Benin Kingdom, and Government gazette which shows Amagba I and Amagba II under Enogie Akengbuda and Enogie Adolor respectively.
The people of Oke-Oroma lamenting the prevailing situation passionately appeal to the Edo State Government, the Benin Monarch HRM Oba Ewuare II, the Police, and all relevant authorities for further intervention, to help restore the elusive peace and enable them return home!
Amagba Erese reaction
Peter Owen Erhinmwinorose a.k.a 'Ebo Amagba' (Photo credit: hilltopnationaleng.blogspot.com)
In reaction, the people of Amagba Erese Village told the media a couple of days ago that they are the ones who are under frequent attack, by the people of Oke-Oroma also known as 'Ago-Emokpae.'
According to them, there is no Village known as 'Oko-Oroma' in Benin Kingdom and that what is in existence is 'Ago-Emokpae' (Emokpae's Camp) which was founded by one of their past Enogie (Duke), Erese Adolor.
"We own the land, it is not about falsified documents they are pushing in the media," one of the elders Peter Owen Erhinmwinorose a.k.a 'Ebo Amagba' said.
"It is funny that the attackers are the ones crying victim. The cases of the recent attacks and killings are being investigated by the security agencies already."
Further denying the allegation of the serial invasion of Oke-Oroma, Erhinmwinorose said; "that is pure lie because nothing like that happened. If there should be anybody killing people and destroying property, it should be the man, Gaius Emokpae and some group of people in Obagie community which I know to be Uyi their Okaighele (youth Head), Malo and their CSO.
They invaded the camp, and caused a lot of destruction both human and property, he alleged. "This is what I know has happened recently."
Cause of lingering clash since 2012
Erhinmwinorose alleged a retired Central Bank of Nigeria director, Gaius Emokpae is architect of the long drawn clash perpetrating land grabbing to make money.
"He wants to make the Emokpae Camp an autonomous community and Amagba said no, that it remains a camp under Enogie Amagba Adolor."
Emokpae's father lived in the camp for decades and there was never any trouble, so it is shocking his son (Gaius) is creating all manner of crisis in the place, Erhinmwinorose wondered.
"At a point, he dragged us to the Palace of the Oba of Benin and the Monarch HRM Oba Erediauwa said, that Oke-Oroma is a camp under Amagba Adolor and he cannot make it an autonomous community."
For this allegation, a document carrying the letter head of the Oba Palace, the signature of Oba Erediauwa and duly dated was displayed as evidence.
"He refused to listen to the Palace of the Oba instead he took the matter to court and since then, he has continued to wage war against us, killing and maiming the people there."
Who then owns Oke-Oroma land?
"The land actually belongs to Amagba Adolor; we have two Amagba. Amagba Ekengbuda and Amagba Adolor were duly documented in the Mid-Western State region, also Bendel State gazette.
"In all the relevant records, it is duly documented; Amagba Akengbuda and Amagba Adolor up till date.
"Amagba was amongst the first Dukedoms created in Benin Kingdom so there is Enogie Akengbuda and Enogie Adolor in Amagba 1 and Amagba II.
"With the creation of Ikpoba -Okha Local Government Council Area, the Emokpae family began to lay claim to the ownership of Amagba II which the Oke-Oroma camp is part of. There are two Enigie in the two separate communities.
"Amagba 1 is actually in Oredo Local Government Council Area and Amagba II which is also known as Amagba Erese or Adolor is in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Council Area.
"Let it be known that when Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Council Area was created, Government did not say Amagba II has been abolished or attached to any other community.
"It does exist and it still exists! If the Government can recognise the existence of Amagba II who then are these people to want to now create an autonomous community inside a community?
"The people dwelling in Oke-Oroma have been subjects to Enogie Adolor from time immemorial and are still his subjects.
"These people claiming ownership of the land now were not even the original settlers. There were the Ijaws and Itsekiri people before them. Initially, Eboigbe came, then Omatseye, an Itsekiri man."
According to Erhinmwinorose, the foundation of the problem was when the forebears of Amagba people decided to name the camp after a Benin man; Emokpae who was the father of Gaius, instead of the earliest settlers who were strangers.
As against the claim of Emokpae and his people, the river Oroma is only a boundary between Amagba I and Amagba II, he said.
"Oke-Oroma as an autonomous community never existed, hence can never have any boundary with Amagba I", Erhinmwinorose stressed.
"The river they are talking about is not a boundary between the Emokpae family and Amagba Akengbuda rather, it is a boundary between Amagba I and Amagba II, separating the two Dukedoms of Enogie Akengbuda and Enogie Adolor."
Responding to a question, he however admitted that truly both warring parties at various times signed peace accords at the instance of the Police authority and even the military; to stop the fighting, wanton waste and destruction of lives and valuable properties.
"Truly, we all signed a peace accord but it was not to concede our property to them."
Erhinmwinorose consequently advised prospective developers to be very cautious in the acquisition of property from these people.
Warning; "we cannot fold our hands seeing people selling our property hence they should do proper investigation before doing any property transaction in the area, to avoid painful experience of losing money invested."
From the account of both parties, it seems the journey to peaceful resolution of the communal clash is yet to be in sight; except something extraordinary happens!
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