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Benin traditional rulers, priests allege Ijaw youths attack on communities

By Michael Egbejule, Benin City
29 November 2017   |   3:27 am
Traditional rulers in Ovia North East and South West local councils in Edo State have raised the alarm over an alleged attack on their communities by ijaw settlers.

Ijaw Youths

Traditional rulers in Ovia North East and South West local councils in Edo State have raised the alarm over an alleged attack on their communities by ijaw settlers.

The Bini and the Ijaw have been having loggerheads over the ownership of Gelegele village and the purported installation of a king, to which the Bibi have objected.

The traditional rulers comprising edionweres, Ohens, enogies and rural dwellers protested on the streets of Benin City yesterday carrying placards bearing various inscriptions.

They alleged that the Ijaw settlers had prevented the village head (Okao), who was appointed by the Oba of Benin, to oversee Gelegele from erecting a building in the village with suspected militants who have been working for the Pere of Olodiama.

The protesters from over 40 villages in Ovia North East and Ovia South West local councils, as well as Gelegele indigenes marched through major streets of Benin chanting Benin solidarity songs.

Led by the Enogie of Iguogie, Festus Osagiede and the Ohen-Osa of Ughoton, High Priest Edokpagbe, the protesters alleged that the Ijaw settlers have severally attacked their people.

They claimed that the Ijaw youths have attacked their women and children over the refusal of the Bini to allow the planned installation of an Ijaw monarch at Gelegele in Ovia North East council of the state.

The protesters, who described the development as an abomination and affront to the Benin native laws and customs, insisted that the position of Pere of Olodiama Kingdom never existed in Benin Kingdom.

They also besieged the Edo State House of Assembly, where they told the Speaker, Ajoto Kabiru, to urgently intervene in the crisis to ensure peace in the Benin Kingdom.

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