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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Twelve years after they were allegedly displaced, natives of Oke-Oroma, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, following clash with their neighbour, Amagba Erese in Oredo LGA over ownership of a parcel of land, the people of Oke-Oroma are yearning to return home to a peaceful life.
The two warring communities, separated by Oroma River, are locked in an unending conflict over land, resulting in deaths and destruction of properties. Oke-Oroma Secretary, Monday Edo Omorogiuwa alleged that the people of Amagba were the first to invade them.
The late Oba Erediauwa of Benin constituted a panel led by Chief Eduwu Ekhator, the Obasogie of Benin Kingdom to look into the matter. The palace thereafter resolved that the status be maintained.
Five years later, on July 22, 2017 to be precise, the Oba’s resolution was allegedly violated by Amagba people who invaded Oke-Oroma, shooting dead the wife of one Isaac Momoh and destroying properties, including Oguedion, the ancestral elders’ sanctuary of the community.
Omorogiuwa said in 2018, Amagba people came with bulldozers to map out roads for layout and allegedly sold portions of the land to unsuspecting developers: “On March 26, 2018, the war of total elimination was sustained as they invaded Oke-Oroma armed with guns, machetes and other dangerous weapons.
“This invasion was repeated from April 6 till Saturday, April 7, 2018 and as usual, wreaking untold havoc, killing and maiming their victims. Also, on March 9, 2020, Amagba Erese launched a dastardly attack on Oke-Oroma armed with guns, and other dangerous weapons, leaving on their trail, wanton destruction of lives and valuable properties.
“They want to dominate, they want to possess what is not theirs by force. The latest being on February 15, 2023, when Amagba Erese people again launched a vicious attack on us.
“Some of us were only lucky to have been able to escape as we were chased away, with guns and machetes. From that day in February last year till today, we have all deserted our native homes to seek refuge elsewhere for the fear of the unknown.
“After chasing us away, they crossed River Oroma, the natural boundary between us and mounted a sign-post written: ‘Amagba Phase II’ claiming ownership of Oke-Oroma,” he said.
He recalled that the two communities on February 27, 2020, had a peace meeting with the Commissioner of Police and an undertaking to refrain from continued violence was duly signed. He said: “On June 5, 2021, another peace meeting at the instance of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AlG) Zone 5, Benin, held between the gladiators wherein again an undertaking to maintain peace was signed by both parties.
The matter was taken to court for adjudication, petitions backed with evidential documents written to the Police, Department of State Security (DSS) and even the military in Benin have been solicited to intervene. Unfortunately, all of these have not yielded any positive fruit.”
A community leader and an elder of Amagba Erese, Peter Owen Erhinmwinorose, responded. He said: “We own the land, it is not about falsified documents. It is funny that the attackers are the ones crying victims. The cases of the recent attacks and killings are being investigated by the security agencies already.”
He described the allegation of the serial invasion of Oke-Oroma as “pure lie because nothing like that happened. They invaded the camp and caused a lot of destruction both human and property, he alleged, adding: “This is what I know has happened recently.”
He attributed the the lingering clash since 2012 to a retired senior government official, who he accused of perpetrating land grabbing to make money: “He wants to make the Emokpae Camp an autonomous community and Amagba said no.
“At a point, he dragged us to the Palace of the Oba of Benin and Oba Erediauwa said that Oke-Oroma is a camp under Amagba Adolor and he cannot make it an autonomous community. For this allegation, a document carrying the letter head of the Oba Palace, the signature of Oba Erediauwa and duly dated was displayed as evidence.
“He refused to listen to the Palace of the Oba. Instead, he took the matter to court. Since then, he has continued to wage war against us, killing and maiming the people there.
“The land actually belongs to Amagba Adolor; we have two Amagba. Amagba Ekengbuda and Amagba Adolor were duly documented in the Mid-Western State Region, also Bendel State gazette. In all the relevant records, it is duly documented; Amagba Akengbuda and Amagba Adolor up till date.
“Amagba was among the first Dukedoms created in Benin kingdom. There is Enogie Akengbuda and Enogie Adolor in Amagba 1 and Amagba II.
“With the creation of Ikpoba-Okha LGA, the Emokpae family began to lay claim to the ownership of Amagba II which the Oke-Oroma camp is part of. There are two Enigie in the two separate communities. Amagba 1 is actually in Oredo LG and Amagba II which is also known as Amagba Erese or Adolor is in Ikpoba-Okha LGA
“Let it be known that when Ikpoba-Okha LGA was created, it was not said that Amagba II has been abolished or attached to any other community. It does exist and it still exists. If the government can recognise the existence of Amagba II who then are these people who want to now create an autonomous community inside a community?
“The people dwelling in Oke-Oroma have been subjects to Enogie Adolor from time immemorial and are still his subjects. These people claiming ownership of the land now were not even the original settlers. There were the Ijaw and Itsekiri before them. Initially, Eboigbe came, then Omatseye, an Itsekiri man.
“As against the claim of Emokpae and his people, River Oroma is only a boundary between Amagba 1 and Amagba II. Oke-Oroma as an autonomous community never existed, hence can never have any boundary with Amagba I.
“The river they are talking about is not a boundary between the Emokpae family and Amagba Akengbuda, rather it is a boundary between Amagba I and Amagba II, separating the two Dukedoms of Enogie Akengbuda and Enogie Adolor.
“Truly, we all signed a peace accord but it was not to concede our property to them. We cannot fold our hands seeing people selling our property. They should do proper investigation before doing any property transaction in the area, to avoid painful experience of losing money invested.”
In the meantime, the people of Oke-Oroma appealed to the state government, the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, police and all relevant authorities for further intervention, to help restore the elusive peace and enable them return home.
