Eben Enasco Kingsley, Benin City
Sequel to the proscribes on Community Development Association, CDA’s and its activities in our localities as pronounced by His Royal Majesty, HRM, the Omo N’ Edo Uku-Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, Oba of Benin Kingdom, some members of the Oye-Iyanomo Community in Upper Ekewuan Road in Ovia North East has abandoned their homes and scamper for safety in their neighboring communities as cars and houses were razed down by alleged thugs and land grabbers said to have been loyal to the Enogie of the community, His Royal Highness, Aghobahi Osagie the Enogie of Oye-Community.
Recall that, a draft bill to the pronouncement by the Oba of Benin Kingdom, HRM Ewuare II to criminalize and forbids CDA’s activities in the eight local government areas of the state, has been sent to the State House of Assembly for endorsement into law for onward penalties on offenders.
It was gathered that trouble broke up when the Odionwere of the Community PA Sunday Agho had asked one Osarobo Airomwanbor to call the former youth Chairman Mr. Iyayi Eboigbe who was on his site working when some hired thugs accompanied by some of the community youths alleged to have loyal to the Enogie rounded him up and unleashed mayhem on him even though he managed to escape with his hands almost chopped off with cutlass by the attackers.
The victim of the attack Mr. Iyayi was however rushed to the Evboutubu Divisional Police Station by a passing private motorist to obtain police report where he was taken to the central hospital Sapele road for medical treatment.
It was learnt that after medical test to ascertain the level of the cut it was confirmed by the doctors that the fingers dissected may be permanently useless due to the severity of the deep cut in his left hand which broke up the bones and cut the tissues in his fingers as inflicted in him by two brothers Agbontean and Eguavoen Iyare.
When the assailants noticed he was on the ground they left him reeling and head on to finished their arranged assignment albeit the odionwere’s house where a meeting was ongoing.
When we scooped further, we were informed that when odionwere and other members of the community who where intalia in a meeting noticed their advancement with life threatening instruments, they took to their hills as the alleged irate thugs inflicted various degrees of injuries on the fleeing occupants of the community and destroyed vehicles, houses abandoned by them.
When we visited the Odionwere in his hideout he alleged that the Enogie was behind the whole inferno while calling on appropriate body to wade in and return the community to peace that would usher in relative development; adding that, at a time when the Oba had placed a ban on heinous activities of some CDA Chairmen and sort for cooperation among the people of the community.
In his words, “the Enogie is the one responsible for this. As I speak with you now, I ran away from my house to hide here. Enogie and his thugs havehaven’t
driven us out of our homes into the bush were we had to find our way through our neighboring communities for safety”. They have destroyed our homes and crops. Over five cars were badly damaged. We call on the State Government and our revered Monarch, Oba Ewuare II to come to our aid and help us out.”
In similar tone, Pastor Osarumwense Oshodin of Grace and Favour Empowerment Assembly Church whose church was also razed down and his musical instruments moved to an unknown destination escaped in a whisker lamented the actions of the perpetrators while calling on security agencies to investigate the reasons for this prohibited act and bring those involved to book.
Pastor Oshodin however call on security agencies to take seriously threat to his life and family as some thugs who rode on motor cycle to his church premises during a Sunday service on February 26, 2017 said if he doesn’t leave the community where he built his church they will kill him.
Responding to the allegation against him, during an assessment visit to the community to ascertain the level of damage as alleged by the complainant during an investigation by police investigatory team from AIG Zone 5 headquarters, the Enogie, HRH, Aghobahi Osagie declined comments on the allegations against him, saying, “I can’t say anything now because the police are carrying out its investigation so you can find out from the police.”
However, when we visited and made calls to the Public Relation Officer of AIG Zone 5, DSP Emeka Iheanacho, he said he was yet to be briefed as he was out of office on official engagement.
The Agbontean of the Iyare’s is now at large as the other brother Eguavoen and others has since been reportedly apprehended, arraigned in a magistrate court in Benin City and rehbv minded to the prisons for their involvement on the dastardly act.
