The current killing of three staff of Okomu Oil Palm Firm PLC and a member of the neighborhood in addition to violent assault on troopers in Edo State is a trigger for nice concern, writes ADEYINKA ADEDIPE
The current upsurge in violence within the Ovia South West Native Authorities Space of Edo State which has led to killings, arson, damage to residents and displacement of members of various communities within the space, has develop into a worrisome development within the state because the countdown to the September 21 governorship election continues.
The crises within the troubled space took a disturbing dimension on June 7 when three of the troopers stationed within the space to take care of peace, have been attacked of their gunboats, sustained accidents and are at the moment receiving therapy on the Army Hospital in Benin.
Surprisingly, an assault on navy personnel can happen in Edo contemplating that Okuoma folks in Delta State have but to get better from the results of the killing of 20 troopers locally in an ambush. In retaliation and within the quest to fish out the killers, the troopers levelled the neighborhood rendering many homeless.
The current assaults in Edo started on Could 6 when three members of employees of Okomu Oil Palm Firm PLC have been killed whereas on responsibility. There have been fears that the members of the communities within the space might have carried out the assault, however that was quickly dispelled by the Public Relations officer of the corporate, Fidelis Olise, who advised The PUNCH that the killing was finished by unknown individuals.
He famous that the corporate loved cordial relationships with the communities round it and couldn’t say whether or not members of the communities have been concerned. Nonetheless, he mentioned the matter was instantly reported to the police, expressing hope that justice can be finished.
The state Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, at the moment, confirmed the loss of life of the Okomu staff and mentioned that extra officers can be deployed by the state command to the realm to forestall a repeat of the assault. The CP additionally confirmed that the gunmen have been from a neighbouring state and that efforts have been on to apprehend them.
Regardless of this assurance from the CP, the gunmen struck once more at midnight on Could 12, killing a resident recognized as Eni and injuring many others at Marioghionoba Neighborhood popularly known as AT&P. The assailants additionally burnt a number of homes and automobiles belonging to members of the neighborhood.
After the incident, these behind the assault and their motives turned clearer. The gunmen, in an unsigned handwritten letter that they pasted on the chest of the Late Eni requested for 25 per cent shares in Okomu Oil and likewise demanded to be on the corporate board.
The gunmen, who mentioned they have been Ijaw Freedom Fighters, famous that the land the place Okumu Oil is located belongs to them. The group additionally known as for the creation of a neighborhood authorities for the Ijaw in Edo State, whereas calling on the Bini to vacate the realm.
The letter with the heading, to Governor Obaseki, reads partially, “Let it’s recognized to all people that we aren’t criminals, however Ijaw Freedom Fighters in Edo State.
“All we want is freedom, native authorities and our rights. Oyibo (White man) and the Bini folks should depart our land, if not they may die. We aren’t combating any Nigerian safety personnel, however the Okomu Palm Oil Firm. We’d like our proper. Oyibo (White man) and Bini folks should go. Go away our land by proper, not unlawful. Obaseki, we aren’t slaves,” the letter acknowledged.
Because of the sufferings skilled by the hands of the gunmen, indigenes of the realm cried out to the Edo State Authorities, the Inspector-Common of Police and the Ijaw Nationwide Congress (INC) to rescue them from one Lawrence Yanbor, who they fingered because the chief of the group liable for the assaults.
In a Save our Souls message signed by the leaders of the neighborhood together with Elder IK Denmene, Chief Freeman Cousin, Chief Atele Oyico, Chief Nanaghan Rickson and the youth consultant, Christopher Younger, on behalf of the neighborhood, lamented that Yanbor and his gang have rendered 1000’s of individuals homeless because of the continued assaults.
They mentioned, “He and his group have been finishing up this “dastardly act for over 10 years unabated. We’re interesting to the state and federal governments to return to our assist in order that we don’t proceed to endure these assaults.
“The Edo State authorities ought to help us by offering reduction supplies to the displaced individuals and the neighborhood wants a everlasting safety base to keep away from additional assaults.”
“The group additionally destroyed the Edo State Safety Community base in Okomu Neighborhood, 13 homes have been burnt, a number of automobiles have been additionally burnt and solar energy services within the neighbouring I.Ok. Neighborhood have been destroyed whereas indigenes sustained varied levels of Accidents through the assault.”
The youth consultant mentioned Yanbor has been invited by the state police command and 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Military a number of occasions however he by no means confirmed up, quite he carries out his evil act from his hideout. He added that he has been additionally declared wished by safety companies within the state however to no avail.
Nonetheless, after the June 7 assault which left three troopers wounded, Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare mentioned the state authorities has vowed to flush out legal components within the state together with cultists and Okaighele (youth leaders).
He mentioned, “It isn’t proper in any approach for the navy to be attacked in any neighborhood in Edo State. Just a few weeks in the past, we have been all conscious of what occurred in our neighbouring Delta State, the place over 20 troopers have been killed by some youths.
“In Edo State, we’ve got a foul case of cultism and what we additionally name Okaigheles in Benin and throughout Edo South Senatorial District. The info obtainable to us offered to the State Safety Council have mentioned that these are the folks which might be largely liable for legal actions and menace to the safety within the state.
“That’s the reason this group of individuals have been banned, and a process power set as much as look into their actions to neutralize no matter evil plans they’ve. Because the governor positioned a ban on the Okaigheles (youth leaders), we found that some folks additionally went forward to say they need to ignore the federal government ban.
“There’s just one authorities at a time, and that emboldened these folks to enter Okomu forest in our neighborhood to assault our troopers, defending our belongings. One of many troopers is on the mattress in important situation. Three officers, an officer, and two troopers have been badly injured.
He continued, “The gunboat they (the troopers) have been in was destroyed and riddled with bullets. This could not occur in Edo State. We don’t desire a state of affairs the place we will likely be shedding troopers to reckless assaults from cult teams.
“We plead with our leaders, the leaders of Edo South particularly, to rein of their kids and these folks which might be have armed in some way as a result of the arms they’re utilizing are stored someplace, they’re offered by someone. Now, they’re utilizing it to assault troopers, not solely troopers however even civilians on the streets of Edo State.
“We have now come to rapidly go to the wounded officers and the Military to plead with them and importantly to allow them to know we are going to handle no matter invoice is incurred and to guarantee them that Edo State authorities won’t tolerate this untoward behaviour.
Whereas condemning the killing and assaults on people in addition to safety personnel, the President of the Ijaw Nationwide Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, mentioned the issue needs to be checked out holistically.
He mentioned, “I feel your complete situation needs to be checked out holistically as it isn’t nearly assaults and counter-attacks. We must always have a look at the explanations for the assault and the way they are often addressed.
“The Ijaw in Edo are aborigine of their land. They aren’t simply strangers. Historical past has it that the 5 clans of Ijaw in Edo State existed in these locations the place they’re earlier than the approaching of the Bini folks. An amazing Benin historian, Late Jacob Egharevba, mentioned that the Ijaw even helped to ferry the Bini to their communities. The Ijaw even got here up prominently within the Benin bloodbath historical past.
“As indigenes, through the years, they’ve cried of marginalization. These Ijaw communities don’t benefit from the luxurious and improvement being loved in Benin, the Edo State capital. There aren’t any roads, no good colleges, no electrical energy and there are efforts to wipe them out of their space by the Bini folks. There are additionally efforts to rename Ijaw communities with Bini names. The folks have been balkanized. They’re scattered into native authorities the place they can not even contest for councilorship. The oil is discovered on Ijaw land however no Ijaw individual is in Edo State Oll Producing Space Growth Fee.
“So the neglect has bought to some extent the place the Okomu Oil Producing Firm PLC have the help of the state authorities. If you happen to go to Okomu, about 5 villages have been encroached into by the oil palm-producing firm. As we converse over 80 per cent of the individuals are within the forest with no meals, well being care service and different issues that can make life higher for them. We have now protested, written letters and even gone to courtroom however all of those appear to not be yielding any consequence.
“I condemn killing, assaults on folks and the safety operatives. Killing can by no means resolve the crises. These claiming to be Ijaw Freedom Fighters could be anyone however I’m the president of the Ijaw nation and I’ve not approved any Ijaw individual to go and kill anyone. We aren’t encouraging killing, assault or violence, let there be dialogue.
“But when the oppression continues this fashion, the Ijaw nation will stand up someday. We aren’t prepared to present a bit of our land to anybody. We have now by no means been conquered and we will by no means be conquered. However for now, we imagine all of the events needs to be known as to a spherical desk to debate and discover options to those points,” he added.
Nonetheless, an analyst accustomed to the state of affairs, Donald Inwalomhe, that the unlawful management of the Okomu Nationwide Park has led to the killings and assaults, noting that the disaster has nothing to do with Okomu Palm Oil Producing.
He mentioned, “The Okomu Nationwide Park positioned in Ovia South West Native Authorities Space of Edo State was established in 1935 and is without doubt one of the seven parks within the nation that’s going through challenges. The park, I learnt is a wildlife sanctuary and a rainforest ecosystem that’s the habitat for a lot of endangered species. There’s safety menace to Okomu nationwide park and I used to be advised that militants working on the Benin River are liable for the sequence of assaults on Okomu nationwide park.
“The assaults are carried out over the battle for unlawful management of sources in Okomu nationwide park. There was a number of assaults on Okomu neighborhood and Okomu nationwide park by militants.
“The challenges are threatening the existence and hindering the graceful operation of the parks, particularly park rangers finishing up their duties. Among the many challenges confronted by the parks, are conversion of the forest to plantation by cocoa farmers, unlawful lumbering of bushes by loggers and searching of animals, amongst others. I need to ask the top of the forestry fee why they don’t seem to be stopping the unlawful logging and confiscating all of the logs littering the Okomu River which provides to this drawback.
“There are at the moment 4 gun boats on the Okomu River, however it’s not simply the kidnapping that may be a profitable enterprise, additionally it is the unlawful bunkering, and unlawful logging within the Okomu Nationwide Park and theft of Okomu oil merchandise which might be fueling a turf conflict amongst the ijaws themselves who dwell alongside the river and forest reserve.
“It has nothing, in actuality, to do with Okomu Palm Oil firm, however quite, it’s an influence battle between and inside ijaw clans to regulate the river, he added