The crisis involving Benin people at Obazuwa community in Ovia Northeast Local Government of Edo State and Ijaw, over a disputed land, yesterday resulted in the death of an elderly Benin man, Pa William Amuawosa.
The oldest man at Obazuwa, Pa Agidi Roland, fondly called Odionwere, also a Benin man, who was injured in the attack, is receiving treatment in an undisclosed Edo hospital.
The disputed area at Obazuwa is referred to as Iko by the Benin, but called Ikoro by the Ijaw.
It was gathered yesterday in Benin City that many houses, vehicles and domestic animals were destroyed and burnt in the attack, allegedly by Ijaw youths.
One of the Benin leaders at Obazuwa, who spoke in confidence yesterday through the phone, said: “Ijaw people are claiming to be the owners of Obazuwa. We don’t know what we have done to them. They carried guns and came to Obazuwa through the waterside, shooting at Benin people. They destroyed and burnt our houses, vehicles and other valuables. They have been disturbing us for a long time.
“We want the state and federal governments to rescue us. They (Ijaw people) have pursued our (Benin people), including the elderly, out of their houses at Obazuwa.”
The President, Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM), Curtis Ugbo, condemned the attack on Benin people at Obazuwa by the Ijaw.
He urged the Governor Godwin Obaseki administration and security agencies to intervene.
The Chairman, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Olodiama Clan, Samuel Ebiwana, however, denied the allegations levelled against the Ijaw. He claimed that they (the Ijaw) lost three persons to the attack by Benin youths, adding that many of his kinsmen were either injured or missing.
Police spokesman Bello Kontongs, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said at a news that he had not been briefed by the area’s Divisional Police Officer (DPO).
The President, ljaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, has decried the crisis between the lkoro, an ljaw community and the Obazuwa, a Bini community, all in Edo State.
Okaba, in a statement yesterday, urged the communities to sheathe their swords and embrace peace and unity.
He condemned the avoidable conflict, which had involved the use of lethal weapons, resulting in the destruction of lives and property.
Okaba said the development was not acceptable to the ljaw and the Bini.
He said the Niger Delta ethnic nationalities are minorities who have suffered the same fate of oppression, neglect, deprivation, exploitation and marginalisation generally in the wider Nigeria clime.
Okaba, a professor of Sociology at the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, said: “Rather than coalesce efforts, strategies, tactics and energy to combat our common enemies, it is regrettable that two neighbouring communities, who share similar existential challenges, can engage themselves in acts of self-destruction, especially at this auspicious moment of our nationhood that has made inter-ethnic unity, cooperation and solidarity more imperative.
“We, therefore, call on these warring communities to sheathe their swords and embrace peaceful dialogue and arbitration processes to address whatever reasons are behind this conflict that has led to the degree of provocation and aggression we have seen so far.
“The ljaw and the Bini and by extension, other Niger Delta groups should eschew bitterness and explore non-violent mechanisms and options to resolve their grievances. There is and cannot be a better alternative to constructive dialogue and engagement in conflict resolution and management.
“As minorities in the Nigerian contraption, we are too endangered in a community of predatory wolves in sheep clothing to resort to internal wrangling and any act of self-extermination.”
The INC boss, therefore, appealed to Governor Obaseki, who is the chief security officer of the state, to act within the ambit of his power to restore peace and normalcy to the warring communities.
He said the INC is confident that Obaseki will extend his fatherly tentacles and treat the parties involved equally as citizens of Edo State without ethnic biases.
Okaba added: “We are willing and well equipped to partner the government and the good people of Edo State and particularly the leadership of the Bini socio-cultural organisation in their search for peace to these intractable crises springing up between the ljaw and the Bini in Edo State.
“It may suffice to note that the ljaw are aborigines in the delta coastline, who were never conquered and therefore must be so treated with the dignity and respect they deserve in their ancestral homes, despite being minorities as occasioned and orchestrated by state antics of balkanisation.
“While we continue to leverage the strategic initiatives initiated by the INC and the leadership of the Conference of President Generals of Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities to build stronger unity among our people, we wish to thank the security agencies for their intervention and call on both sides to remain calm.
“Let brotherly love reign and the spirit of unity prevail and guide our co-existence and relationships as we march on this common route to self-determination and fulfilment.”
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