From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The Inspector General of Police, Baba Alkali Usman has ordered the Assistant Inspector General of Police, zone 5 headquarters, Benin, to investigate the activities of land grabbers in Okhuoronmi Community in Oredo local government area of Edo.
This was contained in a statement titled RE: “Bandits in our clients farmland in Edo State: Request for urgent arrest of leaders of the group” signed by the Ag. CP Idowu Owohunwa, Principal Staff Officer to the Inspector General of Police in response to a petition filed by Otamere & Otamere for his claimant, Shalom Jare Ventures ltd and made available to newsmen in Benin City.
The statement read in part”Attached herewith is a copy of letter dated 27th May, 2021 received from Otamere & Otamere chambers, on the above underlined subject.
“It is the directive of the Inspector General of Police that you investigate and furnish comments.
“Accept the assurances of my esteemed regards, please”,.
Addressing newsmen during a protest in Benin, Operational Manager, Shalom Jare Ventures ltd, Efosa Aguebor alleged that the Ohen of the community, one Ovbokhan Igbinovia has mobilised thugs to his oil palm farm and chased out his workers who were working on the farm.
He said he has made frantic effort to reclaim the said land but all to no avail.
Aguebor further appealed to relevant agencies to prevail on the said Ovbokhan to leave his farm alone.
All efforts to get the side of Ovbokhan proved abortive as several phone calls put across to him were left unanswered.
However, one of his aides, who identified himself as Festus said the said Ovbokhan was away.
The image maker of Zone 5 Police Headquarters, Benin, DSP, Tijani Momoh said “We are in receipt of the petition from the IGP and the investigation is ongoing”
What is the IGP saying about the fact that terrorists had laid siege in ESAN LAND in Edo State. There have been cries from communities that killers herders have invaded farmland in some regions thereby disallowing farmers access their farms. Some herdsmen go as far demanding ransom from poor farmers that can barely feed their families. Securing lives and properties of Edo citizens are also important as land grabbing.. But if there is no food, their is no life. I think its better, the IGP deploy him team to flush out these criminals. It was reported that these herdsmen who are involved in these atrocities are so cruel and that they threatened to kill at gun point anyone if they can not produce some huge sum of money they demand . This is not acceptable in ESAN land, enough is enough. How long shall ESAN citizen be slaughtered in their home land by these murderers?