Delta Assembly Call on Okowa, Buhari to end invasion of Ovre r’Eku Community by soldiers

·         Hon. Evance Ivwurie alleges massacre of community members

·         Accuses Edo State Govt., Oba of Benin of annexing Ovre r’Eku, a Delta Community

The traumatized people of Ovre r’Eku community in Ethiope East of Delta State Tuesday called on the Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to urge President Muhammadu Buhari to step into the unlawful and illegal invasion, and occupation of their community by soldiers acting on the orders of persons fronting for the Oba of Benin and the Edo state Government.

Hon. Evance Ochuko Ivwurie

The call was in a motion brought to the Delta state House of Assembly by the representative of the community in the House, Hon. (Chief) Evance Ivwurie (Ethiope East), which he brought under matter of urgent public importance.

Moving his motion that was unanimously adopted by the House, Hon. Ivwurie, stated: “I move that this Honourable House do now call on His Excellency, the governor of Delta state, Senator (Dr.) Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa to urge His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, to as a matter of urgency direct:

·         “The Chief of Army Staff to carry out an investigation into the ugly incident of unlawful and illegal invasion, massacre and occupation of Ovre r’Eku community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta state by soldiers attached to Presco Plc that took place on 2^nd day of March, 2016 at Ovre r’Eku and fish out the soldiers involved in this dastardly act led by on Lt. E.D. Oworobo and bring same to book.

·         “The Edo State Government, the palace of the Oba of Benin, Presco Plc and Newcross Petroleum Limited to desist from further annexing, claiming and colonizing of the Delta state community of Ovr r’Eku in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, which they have also renamed as Iwevbo, as part of Orhiomwon Local Government Area of edo state and Benin kingdom.

·         “Presoco Plc and its Chairman, Col. Paul Ogbebor 9rtd) to bring back our missing mother and grandmother, Mama Alice Agbemrehwue Omadefe, aged 87 years, who was severely beaten up by the soldiers attached to Presco Plc, tens of motorcycles and bicycles carted away by the soldiers.

·         “The National Boundary Commission and other relevant ministries and agencies saddled with the responsibility of boundary adjustment in Nigeria to immediately determine the boundaries between both States in the said community, in other to finding a lasting solution to this perennial issue, prevent further re-occurrence and break down of law and order.”

The motion sailed through when the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya put the question.

Speaking with newsmen later in his office, Hon Evance Ivwurie said the Ovre r’Eku community is a peaceful community that that has lived in that community for over 500 year, and owe allegiance to the Ovie of Agbon kingdom.

He revealed that the Edo State Government and the palace of the Oba of Benin suddenly became interested in the community following the discovery of large deposit of the sweet light brent crude oil. “From that moment, the Oba of Benin and Edo State Government have been trying to annex the land. They brought in Presco Plc which has since established a heavy presence, drilling oil, building classroom blocks as indication of observing the social responsibility in the community,” Hon. Ivwurie said, adding that the perpetrators of the move to annex the community have changed the name Ovre r’Eku to and Edo State name, purporting it to b in Orhiomwon Local Government in Edo State.

He alleged that Lt. E.D. Oworobo, who led soldiers on the shameful massacre of the citizens of the community attacked the women who were protesting the seizure of their farmlands, and destruction of same for oil exploration purposes. The soldier beat up the defenseless and unarmed women, dragged and ambushed the men who tried to rescue the women from further assault. “Mama Alice Agbemrhewue Omadefe, 87, is still missing. It is an eyesore; it is unbelievable that soldiers of the Nigerian Army will descend so low to attack defenseless and unarmed protesting women with such wicked violence and massacre of an Urhobo community while on an unwholesome errand,” Hon. Ivwurie lamented.