The people of Amagba community in the Oredo local government area of Edo State have expressed discontent with the recent visit of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the Operations Department of the Edo State Command of the Nigerian Police. The community believes the police’s presence was not solely to address unrest following the death of one Israel Ogbeide, as stated by the Force Public Relations Officer, but rather a response to a petition by one Gaius Emokpae, whom they accuse of attempting to seize their land.
In a statement issued by Osazuwa Ogbe on behalf of the community, also known as Amagba 2, the residents alleged that there were attempts to unilaterally rename their village to Oke-Oroma, which they claim is merely a farming camp.
While condemning the murder of Israel Isaac Ogbiede and calling for a thorough investigation, the statement criticized the police for their lack of transparency. “The PRO’s statement should have specified the particular unit of the Edo Operations Department that was working with the IRT that day,” it read, highlighting that the police did not consult the community to understand the underlying causes of the crisis.
The community suspects that some police operatives may have conflicts of interest regarding the land ownership issue and believe they are using the police to take control of the community’s administrative affairs. They noted that the IRT was visibly present when suspected thugs, allegedly loyal to Emokpae, changed the community’s signboard to reflect the new name.
Furthermore, the statement raised concerns about the lack of engagement with the Amagba community regarding the land dispute, stating, “The police did not invite the people of Amagba community to respond to the petition written against them and did not also carry out findings into the actual ownership of the land in dispute from the Oba of Benin palace, who is the customary custodian of all Benin lands in Edo State.”
The community also pointed to the alarming coincidence of the signboard being changed and the murder of Mr. Israel Isaac Ogbiede occurring on the same day, suggesting a coordinated effort. They referenced a viral video showing individuals boasting of their presence and readiness to confront any group, particularly the Okaighele of Amagba 2 community, if they attempted to return to the area.