The people of Igueshodin N’Budin community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State have denied collaborating with local vigilantes to attack residents of Ogbeson Quarter, fellow folks men insisting the allegations circulating in the media space are false and misleading.
Speaking to journalists in Benin City, the mouthpiece of the community, Bright Ehimanmiegho said the clarification became necessary to set the record straight and inform the public about the true circumstances surrounding the recent tension in the area.
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Ehimanmiegho stated that contrary to allegations made by some residents of Ogbeson Quarter, the youths and leadership of Igueshodin N’Budin were not involved in any attack against them.
He explained that Igueshodin N’Budin is made up of four quarters — Ogbeson, Agobahenhen, Igueidu and Iduhunadagba and that all the quarters have coexisted peacefully for many years under the traditional structure recognised by the Benin Kingdom.
According to him, the current dispute began about four to five years ago when a member of the community, Ikponwonsa Upkosisi allegedly began creating tension by attempting to establish what he described as a separate community within Igueshodin N’Budin.
Ehimanmiegho said the development was unprecedented in the Benin Kingdom, noting that only the Oba of Benin has the authority to grant autonomy to any settlement or community.
He said elders and leaders of the community confronted Upkosisi and cautioned him about the consequences of his actions, but he allegedly ignored their advice and continued with his activities.
“As a law-abiding community that does not want to take the law into its hands, we decided to report the matter to the appropriate government authorities so that peace could be restored,” he said.
Ehimanmiegho disclosed that the community subsequently wrote to the Palace of the Oba of Benin and to the Chairman of Ovia North East Local Government Area to verify whether Ogbeson existed as an independent community within the council area.
He said the local government authorities responded that there was no officially recognised community known as Ogbeson in that axis, while the Palace of the Oba of Benin also reaffirmed that Ogbeson remained a quarter within Igueshodin N’Budin.
According to him, the Palace further confirmed that the Odionwere of Igueshodin N’Budin traditionally oversees all the quarters in the community with the support of the Oguedion, the elders’ council.
He alleged that tension escalated when members of the Ogbeson Quarter appeared to be preparing for confrontation, prompting the leadership of Igueshodin N’Budin to submit a petition to the police.
The police consequently had begun investigating the matter when the situation allegedly deteriorated.
According to him, when officers arrived in the area in response to the petition, individuals from Ogbeson Quarter, allegedly led by Ikponwonsa Upkosisi, opened fire injuring some police officers; an incident he said had already been reported in the media.
Ehimanmiegho emphasised that the people of Igueshodin N’Budin never attacked Ogbeson Quarter as alleged.
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Therefore, the Edo State Government and relevant security agencies should intervene and restore peace to the community, he appealed.
Also, investigate the situation thoroughly in order to prevent further escalation of the dispute.
In the same vein, he called on members of the public to take note that Ogbeson has historically been one of the four quarters under Igueshodin N’Budin, a fact he said had been confirmed by the Palace of the Oba of Benin.
The mouthpiece added, the community however remains committed to the peace and lawful resolution of the dispute for the sustenance of peaceful coexistence.
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