Property owners at Ulegun, a peaceful and growing community on the Benin-Abraka Road in Edo State have called for a redress over alleged injustice meted out to them with the destruction of their property.
The home owners accused the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II of being behind their plight, saying he ordered the destruction of their property built on the land which it was said they illegally occupied.
“We want the injustice redressed as the Nigerian Constitution should be King in a democratic era as against the raw, unrestrained, unbridled and illegal powers of some traditional rulers and government officials,” said the Queen Mother, Mrs. Rose Omoregie, on behalf of members of the community, during a protest.
The protesters said no fewer than 80 property were destroyed on the order of the palace of the Oba.
They also accused the governor of the state, Godwin Obasaki, of having a hand in the order that led to the destruction of their property.
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Omoregie said at the moment the displaced former Ulegun landlords and landladies were taking refuge in the homes of friends and families in neighboring communities praying for justice to come quickly.
She said strangely, the leader of the chiefs from the palace and Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council, Mr. Frank Irabor, had no court order or judgement to execute “such unprecedented illegality in a state where law and order reign supreme.”
“As if the wanton destruction was not enough, the Village Head, Enogie Sunday Eghosasere Omoregie, and the chief priest of the community, Ohen Philip Uwuoroya, were adopted and brutalised in a style reminiscent of the German Gestapo Police during the Nazi regime,” she added.
Omoregie, who gave an eye witness account, said that “the community head was called for a meeting last Wednesday and since then, he had not returned home.”
According to her, “the Enogie inherited the land in dispute between the Ulegun Community and Ukhiri Community from his grandfather and the land belongs to the Ulegun Community and not the reigning Oba of Benin as claimed by the palace chiefs. The dispute over the land has since 1974 been settled and resolved in favour of the Ulegun community from the palace of Oba Akenzua up to the Supreme Court.”
It was, however, gathered that the Edo State Government had facilitated the release of the Ulegun Community head and the chief priest.
