Ahor Community Denies Encroaching On Eyean’s Land
By Simeon OSAJIE
The people of Ahor Community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State has denied the accusation of forceful takeover of Eyaen land, their neighbour with whom they share common boundary.
Their denial follows the alarm raised by the people of Eyaen in the media that their neighbour, the people of Ahor Community has forcefully taken a portion of their land, and were seeking justice.
Speaking on behalf of Ahor people, an elder from the community, Pa Andrew Ehigiator said though they share common boundary with Eyaen people from ages, they have never encroached on their neighbour’s land. “Instead, it is the Enogie of Eyaen who have sold off a large portion of land belonging to Ahor people over the years,” they alleged.
According to Pa Ehigiator, “We are only taking ownership of our land that is remaining after his encroachment and hijack of our territory, he said adding that the actual boundary between the two communities is behind the Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) at Eyaen.”
He narrates that there are historical features of their ownership of the land; Ikoden, Agoweh, as evidence.
Ahor land area spreads up to the Pipeline, Idumwowina and the moat between Ihonvhor and Idumwowina communities, he further said.
Continuing, the elders narrates that the Ahor people have been living in their present land mass since the days of the Ogiso dynasty stressing that the community originally was made up of five quarters, Idumwunenogie, Isikan Idumwunosa, Uselu N’Ahor, and Evboka, with the Enogie (Duke) presiding.
Ahor is bounded by Eyaen, Uteh, Ihovbor, Ayen, Evbokhuenbo, Uzalla, Idokpa and Ukhegie and it is surrounded by a natural moat.
It is on record, that it was Ahor people who waged war against the Atahs on behalf of the Benin Kingdom, an evidence of its size and strength in the olden days.
People of the neighbouring Villages including Eyaen were coming to the farm in Ahor, he said.
“So, the fact that some persons in Eyaen did crossed the moat (boundary between us) to farm in Ahor did not entitle the Enogie ownership of our land.
“We have not encroached into Eyaen land and we do not intend to do that, the boundary is the moat and we are ever ready to strictly adhere to that clear cut natural feature between us.
Pa David Igbinovia corroborated the narrative of Pa Andrew Ehigiator adding that the allegations by Eyaen people of encouragement against them was not true.
