From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Inhabitants of Ijaw communities in Inikorogha, Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State, yesterday, staged a peaceful protest against alleged plans by some powerful individuals to withdraw security personnel that have continue to maintain peace in the areas.
The protesters, who came out in their numbers, carried different placards with various inscription, however, commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for ensuring peace and security prevail in Inikorogha and also for linking communities through road construction.
Addressing newsmen, the Chairman of Inikorogha community, Friday Benson, appealed to the governor to see to the extension and increase of security presence in the community.
“What we are saying in essence is that nobody should truncate the effort of the governor by plans to remove security from our communities. There is a great improvement of security in the last one year and a half. We thank the governor for providing the needed security
“Prior to now, evil attacks were meted on our community but today we have strong presence of security with the deployment of special forces at Mile 3. Their presence has checkmate insecurity being perpetrated in our land by some unscrupulous elements,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman of Elders Council, Philip Polo, while expressing worry over information to remove the special forces providing security in the areas, called for more deployment of security just as he thanked Governor Obaseki for his effort in road construction in Inikorogha.
“We want to first of all thank Governor Obaseki, he has performed well in terms of infrastructure but sadly that gave birth to some unscrupulous criminals that have made Inikorogha uninhabitable perpetrated by some militants who came through the rivers.
“But when security came everybody was relieved. The situation now is that these same people are trying to pull the strings from behind. We have information that they are trying to see to the withdrawal of the special forces responsible for peace rather we are appealing for more security here,” he said.