EGBAEN (OVIA NOTH EAST) – There was tension and pandemonium in Egbaen Village, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State on Monday, as the people of Igo, a neighbouring village were alleged to have invaded Egbaen with armed thugs which according to the people led to the killing of a resident of Egbaen.
The recent communal crisis it was learnt is not unconnected with a large parcel of land said to have been resolved by Oba Ewuare II in favour of Egbaen
Recall that the Benin Monarch in a letter dated July 2, 2020 signed by Secretary to Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor and addressed to the Ohen of Egbaen, Pa. Moses Edionwere which was sighted by our reporter, had resolved that Evbe-Adesode/ Evbuolekpen Village Junction is the boundary between Egbaen and Igo villages.
The statement with Reference No. BTC.A40/VOL.LVIII214 read in part:
Re: Request for Pronouncement document for Egbaen Village in respect of boundary demarcation between Egbaen and Igo Villages.
“The matter came up before the Omo N’Oba. Palace resolved that Evbe-Adesode/ Evbuolekpen Junction that leads to Evbuolekpen Village should be the boundary between Egbaen and Igo Villages.
“Palace Chiefs were thereafter instructed to plant traditional tree ( Ikhinmwin) on the specific area”.
Addressing newsmen on Monday the Odionwere and Ohen of Egbean, Pa. James Agbedughan Aibueku and Pa. Moses Edionwere, in their separate reactions alleged that the invasion of Egbean was masterminded by the Ohen-Olukun of Igor, Pa. Osadolor Swaris, Charlse Igbineweka (Safora), Igor Akenzua and Austin Ehigiator.
They said that the village which has been peaceful since the resolution of the Oba of Benin was rained with bullets on Monday by suspected Igo dissidents which led to the killing of one person ( from Northern extraction of the country) in village just as several others sustained bullet wounds.
They claimed further that the people of Igo have vowed to resist Oba Ewuare II’s resolution of the land dispute and recalled how chiefs who were sent by the palace to plant the Ikhinmwin tree were allegedly attacked by the people of Igo.
The people, however, called on the Edo State Government, Oba Ewuare II and Security agents to wade into the crisis, adding that residents are fleeing Egbean over spate of unwarranted attacks by Igo people.
When our newscrew visited Egbaen yesterday, residents were seeing lamenting their losses as some claimed that the Igo Invaders disposed them of their valuables that include cash just as Egbaen Village Hall was ridden with bullets.
In a switch reaction, Mr. Charlse Igbineweka, while reacting on behalf of the accused persons and Igo village debunked the allegation of Egbaen, claiming that it was Egbaen that attacked his people in their village while he was away.
“The allegations that we attacked Egbaen is not true and as at the time of the incident, I was in town not in the village (Igo) nor Egbaen. I was only informed in town that my people were attacked by Egbaen people.
‘The person who they claimed was killed was not killed in Egbaen but in Igo land. Egbaen people have been attacking us and the matter is before the police in Abuja.
“So, the allegations against me and my people is not true”, he maintained.
