Youths of Oja community in Akoko-Edo LGA of Edo State have burnt down the palace of the Olojah of Ojah, Oba D S Lawani, over alleged denial of customary burial of persons allegedly killed by a shrine.

The youths also set ablaze the residence of the Commissioner for Social Development and Gender, Mrs Christabel Eremah Ekwu, over the same issue.

It was gathered that trouble started on Monday when a woman alleged to have been killed by a shrine in Ojah was not allowed to be buried as custom demanded of any person killed by the shrine.

It was learnt that the community wanted to give the woman “sky burial” as custom demanded – in which a corpse killed by the shrine is thrown into the shrine on the hills.

City & Crime further learnt that the traditional ruler and the commissioner advocated a stoppage of the burial and were suspected to have invited security agencies to stop the burial process.

Source said angered by the development, the youths attacked the security with stones and chased them before attacking the palace and the residence of the commissioner.

The Okpameri Traditional Rulers Association (OKPATRA), in a statement signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Óba Sule Idaiye and Victor Arogunyo respectively, condemned the incident and called for peace.

In a statement, they said: “We crave the understanding of all the critical stakeholders of Ojah community to continue to maintain peace and harmony while OKPATRA consults with the relevant stakeholders, including the Akoko-Edo Traditional Rulers Council, to resolve all the contending issues with a view to finding a lasting solution as soon as it is practicable.”

The spokesperson of the police in the state, Chidi Nwabuzor, said he was waiting for a report from the DPO of the area. (Daily Trust)