Edo State Government, yesterday, announced that it had taken over an expanse of land measuring 1,229 hectares along the Irhirhi-Obazagbon-Ogheghe Road for the development of a new town.

Addressing newsmen in Benin City, Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare, said the land was acquired in 2017 for the new town project but had been encroached upon by land speculators.

The area, it was learnt, was a forest reserve at the time of its acquisition. He said the curfew declared in the area on Wednesday by the government was meant to pave the way for the repossession of the land.

According to him, the exercise was part of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s renewed campaign against land grabbers in the state, aimed at restoring sanity to land administration in the state.

RECALL that The Guardian reported, yesterday, that the state government declared a curfew in the Obazagbon, Ogheghe area of Irhirhi-Arogba-Obazagbon-Ogheghe Road for 24 hours, starting from 12.00 midnight.

The curfew, in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, according to the report, would create room for security exercise in the affected areas.

He said: “This is to notify the general public that the Edo State Government has declared a curfew in the Obazagbon to Ogheghe axis of the Irhirhi-Arogba-Obazagbon-Ogheghe road for 24 hours, starting from 12.00a.m., Thursday, September 29, 2022 to 12a.m., Friday, September 30, 2022.

“Government is conducting a security operation in the area and warns members of the communities to steer clear of the Obazagbon to Ogheghe axis of the road, so as not to endanger themselves.

“Residents in the area are advised to stay indoors as the government embarks on the security exercise.”
Ogie added: “Motorists and pedestrians are advised to use alternative routes. Anyone found loitering in the area during the curfew will be arrested. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.”