4 months ago
46
The recent killing of three workers of Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC and a member of the community as well as violent attack on soldiers in Edo State is a cause for great concern, writes ADEYINKA ADEDIPE
The recent upsurge in violence in the Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State which has led to killings, arson, injury to residents and displacement of members of different communities in the area, has become a worrisome trend in the state as the countdown to the September 21 governorship election continues.
The crises in the troubled area took a disturbing dimension on June 7 when three of the soldiers stationed in the area to maintain peace, were attacked in their gunboats, sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Military Hospital in Benin.
Surprisingly, an attack on military personnel can take place in Edo considering that Okuoma people in Delta State have yet to recover from the consequences of the killing of 20 soldiers in the community in an ambush. In retaliation and in the quest to fish out the killers, the soldiers levelled the community rendering many homeless.
The recent attacks in Edo began on May 6 when three members of staff of Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC were killed while on duty. There were fears that the members of the communities in the area may have carried out the attack, but that was soon dispelled by the Public Relations officer of the company, Fidelis Olise, who told The PUNCH that the killing was done by unknown persons.
He noted that the company enjoyed cordial relationships with the communities around it and could not say whether members of the communities were involved. However, he said the matter was immediately reported to the police, expressing hope that justice would be done.
The state Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, at that time, confirmed the death of the Okomu workers and said that more officers would be deployed by the state command to the area to forestall a repeat of the attack. The CP also confirmed that the gunmen were from a neighbouring state and that efforts were on to apprehend them.
Despite this assurance from the CP, the gunmen struck again at midnight on May 12, killing a resident identified as Eni and injuring many others at Marioghionoba Community popularly called AT&P. The assailants also burnt several houses and vehicles belonging to members of the community.
After the incident, those behind the attack and their motives became clearer. The gunmen, in an unsigned handwritten letter that they pasted on the chest of the Late Eni asked for 25 per cent shares in Okomu Oil and also demanded to be on the company board.
The gunmen, who said they were Ijaw Freedom Fighters, noted that the land where Okumu Oil is situated belongs to them. The group also called for the creation of a local government for the Ijaw in Edo State, while calling on the Bini to vacate the area.
The letter with the heading, to Governor Obaseki, reads in part, “Let it be known to everybody that we are not criminals, but Ijaw Freedom Fighters in Edo State.
“All we need is freedom, local government and our rights. Oyibo (White man) and the Bini people must leave our land, if not they will die. We are not fighting any Nigerian security personnel, but the Okomu Palm Oil Company. We need our right. Oyibo (White man) and Bini people must go. Leave our land by right, not illegal. Obaseki, we are not slaves,” the letter stated.
Due to the sufferings experienced at the hands of the gunmen, indigenes of the area cried out to the Edo State Government, the Inspector-General of Police and the Ijaw National Congress (INC) to rescue them from one Lawrence Yanbor, who they fingered as the leader of the group responsible for the attacks.
In a Save our Souls message signed by the leaders of the community including Elder IK Denmene, Chief Freeman Cousin, Chief Atele Oyico, Chief Nanaghan Rickson and the youth representative, Christopher Young, on behalf of the community, lamented that Yanbor and his gang have rendered thousands of persons homeless as a result of the ongoing attacks.
They said, “He and his group have been carrying out this “dastardly act for over 10 years unabated. We are appealing to the state and federal governments to come to our aid so that we don’t continue to suffer these attacks.
“The Edo State government should assist us by providing relief materials to the displaced persons and the community needs a permanent security base to avoid further attacks.”
“The group also destroyed the Edo State Security Network base in Okomu Community, 13 houses were burnt, several vehicles were also burnt and solar power facilities in the neighbouring I.K. Community were destroyed while indigenes sustained various degrees of Injuries during the attack.”
The youth representative said Yanbor has been invited by the state police command and 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army several times but he never showed up, rather he carries out his evil act from his hideout. He added that he has been also declared wanted by security agencies in the state but to no avail.
However, after the June 7 attack which left three soldiers wounded, Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare said the state government has vowed to flush out criminal elements in the state including cultists and Okaighele (youth leaders).
He said, “It is not right in any way for the military to be attacked in any community in Edo State. A few weeks ago, we were all aware of what happened in our neighbouring Delta State, where over 20 soldiers were killed by some youths.
“In Edo State, we have a bad case of cultism and what we also call Okaigheles in Benin and across Edo South Senatorial District. The data available to us provided to the State Security Council have said that these are the people that are mostly responsible for criminal activities and threat to the security in the state.
“That is why this group of people were banned, and a task force set up to look into their activities to neutralize whatever evil plans they have. As the governor placed a ban on the Okaigheles (youth leaders), we discovered that some people also went ahead to say they should ignore the government ban.
“There’s only one government at a time, and that emboldened these people to go into Okomu forest in our community to attack our soldiers, protecting our assets. One of the soldiers is on the bed in critical condition. Three officers, an officer, and two soldiers were badly injured.
He continued, “The gunboat they (the soldiers) were in was destroyed and riddled with bullets. This should not happen in Edo State. We don’t want a situation where we will be losing soldiers to reckless attacks from cult groups.
“We plead with our leaders, the leaders of Edo South especially, to rein in their children and these people that are have armed one way or the other because the arms they are using are kept somewhere, they are provided by somebody. Now, they are using it to attack soldiers, not only soldiers but even civilians on the streets of Edo State.
“We have come to quickly visit the wounded officers and the Army to plead with them and importantly to let them know we will take care of whatever bill is incurred and to assure them that Edo State government will not tolerate this untoward behaviour.
While condemning the killing and attacks on individuals as well as security personnel, the President of the Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, said the problem should be looked at holistically.
He said, “I think the entire issue should be looked at holistically as it is not just about attacks and counter-attacks. We should look at the reasons for the attack and how they can be addressed.
“The Ijaw in Edo are aborigine in their land. They are not just strangers. History has it that the five clans of Ijaw in Edo State existed in those places where they are before the coming of the Bini people. A great Benin historian, Late Jacob Egharevba, said that the Ijaw even helped to ferry the Bini to their communities. The Ijaw even came up prominently in the Benin massacre history.
“As indigenes, over the years, they have cried of marginalization. Those Ijaw communities do not enjoy the luxury and development being enjoyed in Benin, the Edo State capital. There are no roads, no good schools, no electricity and there are efforts to wipe them out of their area by the Bini people. There are also efforts to rename Ijaw communities with Bini names. The people have been balkanized. They are scattered into local government where they cannot even contest for councilorship. The oil is found on Ijaw land but no Ijaw person is in Edo State Oll Producing Area Development Commission.
“So the neglect has got to a point where the Okomu Oil Producing Company PLC have the support of the state government. If you go to Okomu, about five villages have been encroached into by the oil palm-producing company. As we speak over 80 per cent of the people are in the forest with no food, health care service and other things that will make life better for them. We have protested, written letters and even gone to court but all of these seem not to be yielding any result.
“I condemn killing, attacks on people and the security operatives. Killing can never solve the crises. Those claiming to be Ijaw Freedom Fighters might be anybody but I am the president of the Ijaw nation and I have not authorized any Ijaw person to go and kill anybody. We are not encouraging killing, attack or violence, let there be dialogue.
“But if the oppression continues this way, the Ijaw nation will rise up one day. We are not ready to give a piece of our land to anyone. We have never been conquered and we shall never be conquered. But for now, we believe all the parties should be called to a round table to discuss and find solutions to these issues,” he added.
However, an analyst familiar with the situation, Donald Inwalomhe, that the illegal control of the Okomu National Park has led to the killings and attacks, noting that the crisis has nothing to do with Okomu Palm Oil Producing.
He said, “The Okomu National Park located in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State was established in 1935 and is one of the seven parks in the country that is facing challenges. The park, I learnt is a wildlife sanctuary and a rainforest ecosystem that is the habitat for many endangered species. There is security threat to Okomu national park and I was told that militants operating on the Benin River are responsible for the series of attacks on Okomu national park.
“The attacks are carried out over the struggle for illegal control of resources in Okomu national park. There has been several attacks on Okomu community and Okomu national park by militants.
“The challenges are threatening the existence and hindering the smooth operation of the parks, especially park rangers carrying out their duties. Among the challenges faced by the parks, are conversion of the forest to plantation by cocoa farmers, illegal lumbering of trees by loggers and hunting of animals, among others. I want to ask the head of the forestry commission why they are not stopping the illegal logging and confiscating all the logs littering the Okomu River which adds to this problem.
“There are currently four gun boats on the Okomu River, but it’s not just the kidnapping that is a lucrative business, it is also the illegal bunkering, and illegal logging in the Okomu National Park and theft of Okomu oil products that are fueling a turf war amongst the ijaws themselves who live along the river and forest reserve.
“It has nothing, in reality, to do with Okomu Palm Oil company, but rather, it’s a power struggle between and within ijaw clans to control the river, he added
English (US) ·