The leadership of Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO) in Edo State has accused the state government of grabbing over 1,000 hectares of land belonging to Obagie N’Evbuosa community and has demolished over 500 houses.

A statement endorsed by EDOCSO interim Coordinator General, Comrade Curtis Ogbebor, and made available to the media on Monday, October 10, 2022, disclosed that its members visited the Obagie N’Evbuosa community on October 5, 2022 on a fact-finding mission and witnessed ongoing demolition of houses, even as security personnel in the affected land restricted movement of persons.

According to Ogbebor, the Odionware and elders of Obagie N’Evbuosa community denied giving or selling any parts or parcels of the community land to Edo State government nor encroached into government reserves.

Ogbebor quoted the Odionware, Pa Aiguobatile Okungbowa Omozuhiomwen, Community Assistant Secretary, Mr. Iyekekpolor, and other elders present at the meeting as saying that Obagie N’Evbuosa community has been in existence for over 300 years.

The statement said the village elders wondered why such a historical village which their forefathers deforested, lived and farmed before they transited to world beyond, would suddenly become a government land in year 2017, as claimed.

“To them, government takeover of their land was an act of oppression, intimidation and crime against God and humanity. They challenged Edo State government to provide the legal documents used in acquiring the said land from the community leaders,” the statement read in part.

Representatives of EDOCSO, according to the statement, “after extensive discussions with elders of the community, who went round the demolition sites, was taken aback by the level of damage,” which the group described as “inhuman act against the people.”

According to Comrades Kelly Osunbor, Charles Idehen, Influence Enubun, Addison Ugiagbe and other officials of the Civil Society Organisations who were on the delegation to the fact-finding visit, “such attack on citizens was first of a kind in Nigerian history, where a governor elected to protect the lives and properties of citizens would nicodemusly ambush the people of Okoroma originallly known as ‘Agè Emonkpae’, ‘Agè court’ all in Obagie N’Evbuosa in ‘commando’ style under the guise of carrying out security oppressions via illegal curfew, evicts residents from their ancestral homes, denied them of shelter, freedom of movement, intimidate and harass them with armed security forces, arrested and charged them to a kangaroo mobile court, remand them in prison without fair hearing nor access to legal aid.”

EDOCSO claimed that its investigation “revealed Edo State Government fraudulently acquired, forcefully grabbed the community lands without recourse to section 43, 44 of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria and other relevant laws that provides for due consultations and compensations in such circumstances.”

The group further alleged that Governor Obaseki allegedly disregarded the interlocutory injunction restraining the government and her agents from carrying out such actions pending the determination of the case in court.

As at the time of the visit, Ogbebor stated, some sections of the community were still locked down as military personnel, officers of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and local vigilante groups were seen restricting and preventing citizens from going about their lawful activities even as the demolition exercise was still ongoing.

He quoted the locales as calling on His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpololor Oba Ewuare II, Oba of Benin Kingdom; and the international community to come to their rescue.