Come To Our Rescue:Edo Community, Iviukwe Raises Alarm, Begs Federal Government

Residents of Iviukwe Community in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, called on Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, to intervene and address  the crisis rocking the community, following the arrest and illegal detention of members of the community over the land dispute, the sales of community ancestral land, which led to the distruction of properties, death of a police officer, Sgt. Musa Aliyu, during the youth peaceful protest as self defence to rescued their people which have been lingering over the month of April 2022 till date in Iviukwe community, Edo state, Nigeria.

Briefing newsmen at a press conference in Benin City over the alleged forceful take-over of its ancestral land by some highly placed persons from the community, Chairman of Reformed, Ozekhome Dynasty, Mr. Okpame Ozekhome, appealed to the security agencies to unravel those who wreaked havoc on the community, like one Chief Mike Ozekhome, Mr. Okumagbe of Uwani community and George Oshiapi, who mastermind their arrest and the some youth declared wanted to suppress the community from fighting and defending their right about the sale of their fatherland ancestral of over the 5000 hectares of land sold to Dangote in 2013 for the construction of a fertilizer company.

"Although, on his part, the Okumagbe denied the allegations, saying he is an innocent to the claims to those arrested and the youth leader with his team declared wanted.

The Edo State Police Command spokeman, Kontongs Bello, however, said those arrested and declared wanted were as a result of the attack the police vehicles and killing of a police officer after on the spot assessment, following a petition by a member of the Iviukwe community of Edo state.

The community had been engulfed in crisis, following alleged sales of its communal land by some notable leaders from the community, and the subsequent arrest and detention of its leaders, Chief Osimi, Mr.John Odanmhen, Mr  Obaihon Clement and others.

The community members also demanded the immediate release of its leaders, and other residents, who are still alleged to be in police custody over the land dispute.

Mr. Ozekhome, who spoke on behalf of the sons and daughters of Iviukwe Community of Edo state and the residents alike, home and in diaspora,  called on the Governor of Edo state and the IGP who declared Mr. Friday Oshio the youth leader, Sampson Itulah, Abraham Odanmhen and Mr Kennedy Izoya wanted, over the killing of a police officer to ensure restoration of peace to our troubled community, and direct the police officers there to withdraw the over one week-long siege to the village and allow the justice process to take its course.

During the crisis now became unbearable and unsafe to the people living aroud Iviukwe community, over 300 police officers were deployed in Iviukwe community, shooting sporadically which led to the killing of an innocent citizens.

Meanwhile, after much investigation, the Edo State Commissioner of Police gave the order to the public that whosoever that  locate the whereabout of the youth leader Comrade Friday Oshio,  Abraham Odanmhen and others, would be compensated with the sum of 10milllion naira.

“ He said many people, including the community Chairman, Mr. Adolphus Ozekhome as well as the youth have been arrested and declared  wanted without justification.

The call became imperative as a result of the inhuman treatment, manhandling, arrest and illegal detention of its community leaders and youths which led many to flee the land for safety of their lives to unknown destinations.

The community citizens appealed to the Edo State Police Command for prompt investigation into the crisis rocking the community over the. months and stop the killing of their innocent youths and citizens