Aftermath of Ulegun Demolition, Edo Police Command Docks BTC Secretary Frank Irabor, Other Chiefs
By The9JaTREND
Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) Frank Irabor and some chiefs of the Benin palace has been arrested by the Edo Police Command over the illegal demolition of houses in Ulegun Community, in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
Recalling the series of events in Ulegun Village, house owners had witnessed their houses broken into rubbles as bulldozers ruin their buildings which were alleged to have been built on a parcel of land belonging to the Benin Monarch, sold off chiefly by some members of the community.
The Benin Traditional Council Secretary and some other chiefs are currently facing trial at the Edo High Court, Benin City.
Their arrest followed several protests and pleas by the community for justice to end the intimidation, harassment and total disregard for the rule of law by the detainees.
The community had, Monday, protested the alleged demolition of several houses in their community, as well as arrest and maiming of their Village Head (Enogie), Sunday Eghosasere Omoregie, and the community’s Chief Priest (Ohen), Philip Uwuoroya, by a group of chiefs, led by Frank Irabor.
The community lamented that the dastardly act prosecuted by Benin Traditional Secretary, Frank Irabor and his co-travelers has left many residents homeless, inflicting pains and sufferings on the people, expressing worry that the state may soon plunge into crisis if nothing is done to curtail these excesses and penchant for illegality.
However, in a swift response by the Benin Traditional Council on Wednesday, 31st August, 2022, Chief Henry Obazuaye, the Aiwerioghene of the Benin Kingdom on behalf of the Council, said Land Grabbers sell other people’s lands ignoring the dire consequences adding that the worst still, the purchasers are also aware they are purchasing illegally without verification.
He maintained that the land grabbers are always in the habit of arguing that once a structure is hurriedly erected on the such illegally acquired property, the palace of the Oba forbids bringing down such property.
Chief Obazuaye stressed that several parcels of land belonging to the Benin Monarch have been taken over by land grabbers, adding that in Ukhiri village, the case was taken to an unprecedented height.
While commending and encouraging the state government to do more in arresting offenders, he said the palace is against land grabbers which he said reconstructed from the outlawed Community Development Association, CDA, urging the public to resist domestic terrorism in any form.
