The Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II has expressed worry over the activities of land grabbers in the state, particularly as it has resulted in violent clashes between communities in Edo state.

The monarch, who also commended the state government’s efforts to halt land grabbing, advocated for intensive measures “in arresting this unsavouring behaviour of grabbing other people’s land.”

He further disclosed that several parcels of land belonging to the palace have been taken over by land grabbers. Chief Henry Bazuaye, who addressed journalists in Benin city on behalf of the Oba, attributed the violent clash over the ownership of a land between Ukhiri and Ulegun community on the “impunity of youths and Enogie (Duke) of Ulegun.”

Bazuaye maintained that “Ukhiri annexed the said land and proceeded to sell off the land of other people, including the land that is known to belong to the palace.”

He expressed concern that “illegal buyers of grabbed land built up structures hurriedly to avoid the law.”

While noting that land grabbing is akin to domestic terrorism and kidnapping, the royal father said: “the practice of grabbing other people’s land in Benin is against our culture”.