BENIN CITY – IJAW youth and half-naked women on

Tuesday pursued over 25 police officers and workers sent to

build residential estates for the Oba of Benin at Gelegele-

gbene (Gelegele), a community in Ovia North East Local

Government Area, Edo State, which has been in contention

between the Ijaws and Binis in the state.

A cross-section of China Harbour Engineering staff,

with guides and community people on site in

Gelegele.

The police officers were to provide security for the workers,

but Gelegele natives, mainly Ijaws, did not find the reason

for their visit and action of commencing a housing project

funny.

National President of the Ijaw People Development Initiative,

IPDI, Austin Ozobo, claimed that the Oba of Benin sent

people to the community to commence the construction of

residential estates, adding that it was provocative, hence

the villagers pursued the over 50 police officers from the

community.

Sources said the workers had started laying blocks when

the youths and women mobilized and chased them out of

the community. They also a seized land document in their

possession.

The seized document obtained by Vanguard, yesterday, is a

plan showing proposed site for residential estates for HRM

Omo N’Oba Ewuare II, Oba of Benin at Gelegele village area,

Ovia North East local government area, Edo state, covering

an area of 300 hectares.

Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, cautioned the Edo

State Government, Oba of Benin and security agencies to

wary of their actions in Gelegele so as not to stir

unnecessary crisis.

Secretary, IYC, western zone, Doubra Okotete, in a

statement, said Ijaw youths condemn in totality the

invasion of Gelegelegbene community by Benin people

desperate “to map out a land to site a palace for the Oba of

Benin, a community that does not belong to Benin

kingdom.”

“For the records once again, Gelegele (Gelegele gbene) is

one of the most ancient historical Ijaw communities of Ovia

North East local government area of Edo state, Gelegele

community (Gelegele-gbene) is an ancient Olodiama Ijaw-

speaking community founded by Pa Olugbo Ikpiti several

centuries ago.

“Gelegele is a boarder community between Ijaw

communities and Edo communities on one hand and also it

is a boundary community of Olodiama clan and Egbema

clan of Delta and Edo states. The Bini monarch has often

time planned to assimilate Gelegele gbene, hence the

incessant invasion and harassment meted on the Gelegele

people by the Oba of Benin.

“The entire Ijaw nation is aware of the scheming and

manipulations to lay claim to the community so as to share

the wealth that accrues to it due to the attention that

Federal Government and International community accord it

as oil -producing community in Edo state. The other reason

is the proposed establishment of a seaport and a new

satellite town in Gelegele community.

“This continuous harassment against the law- abiding

Gelegele people is truly a call for war and IYC is gradually

losing its patience over the continuous harassment meted

on Gelegele community. No tribe has conquered Ijaw people

since creation and Oba of Benin and his subjects should

know that they are only trying the patience of Ijaw people.

“Despite several complaints lodged by Gelegele community

to the Edo state government and security agencies, it is

obvious that the security agencies are aiding the odious

act. We stand not only to condemn the said act, but also

warn that it stop forthwith.

“Gelegele people are not alone, they belong to Ijaw nation,

therefore, the IYC and entire Ijaw nation shall resist and

defend our people, the Gelegele community, with the last tip

of our blood. The Ijaw people are peaceful and law-abiding

people, but our simplicity should not be taking for granted,”

the group stated.