From our news desk, Benin
The people of Iyanomo Village, Ovia-North-East Local Government Council Area of Edo State have cried out to the Benin Monarch, HRM Oba Ewuare II, Edo State Government, and other relevant authorities to save them from what they termed: 'unceasing unwarranted provocation, oppressive tendencies, and attack' of the Enogie of Oye; a neighbouring community, HRH Alfred Erhavbuyi Osagie.
Allegedly, against the resolution of HRM Oba Ewuare II in 2018, that Iyanomo Village is not part of Oye Dukedom, Enogie Osagie has continued to devise different means to harnessing the Village and her people under his authority and control.
Iyanomo Village is independent and has never been part of Oye Dukedom as Enogie Osagie erroneously wants the public to believe, they said.
Sunday Ohiengbonmwan, the 2nd ranking elder spoke on behalf of the people in a protest at the Village a couple of days ago.
The Enogie of Oye has severally attacked them, and destroyed buildings under construction in a bid to make them surrender to him, the people alleged.
He has gone further to set up an iron barricade and dug a pit across the road at the point of entrance to Iyanomo Village.
Thus, making it difficult for the people to access their Village except they had to manoeuvre their way through bush paths.
Enogie Osagie is also being alleged of joining forces with the military at the Ekewan barracks to make life horrible for them.
Johnson Aguaigbe one of the elders; and comrade Earnest Aihevba, secretary of the Village, spoke in the same vein.
They recalled that HRM Oba Ewuare II in 2018 made a resolution saying that it is no longer acceptable to use a combination of names for a Dukedom in Benin Kingdom.
"Since then, we have enjoyed peaceful coexistence with our neighbours until the emergence of HRH Alfred Erhavbuyi Osagie as the new Enogie of Oye.
"He has been deploying all manner of ways to make life difficult for us and has now blocked the access road to Iyanomo Village with iron poles and a pit dug across.
"Just as he led his people to destroy buildings in Iyanomo Village; I am a victim", the secretary said.
Iyayi Eboigbe, a native of Iyanomo corroborated the earlier narratives; "since Oba Ewuare II resolution in 2018, the people of Iyanomo Village have peacefully coexisted with their neighbours.
"But since the coming of HRH Alfred Erhavbuyi Osagie as the Enogie of Oye, he has unceasingly terrorized us in a bid to forcefully harness Iyanomo Village under his authority.
"On the 2nd of February, 2024, we woke up to find that Enogie of Oye had blocked the access road to Iyanomo Village.
"Also, on the 13 of February, 2024, he led his people to destroy buildings in Iyanomo Village claiming ownership of the land.
"As he, on the 14 February, 2024 attacked us beating up an elderly woman and pulled down two of her teeth."
Saying they do not want to resort to self help and breach the law; the people of Iyanomo Village appealed to HRM Oba Ewuare II, Edo State Government, security agencies and all other relevant authorities to come save them from the Enogie of Oye and his people.
Madam Loveth Otabor led the women folks in the protest and appeal.
Meanwhile, all attempts to reach Enogie Osagie for his reaction did not succeed, while doing this report on Monday, 4 March, 2024.
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