Uniaro community raises alarm over alleged attack on Okaighele, calls for probe

By Elvis Omoregie, Benin

Residents of Uniaro community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State have appealed to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Oba Ewuare II of Benin and security agencies to intervene in an alleged attack on the community’s Okaighele and other residents by a man identified as Mr Omoregbe, popularly known as “ATM Machine,” and some armed men.

The community alleged that the incident, which reportedly occurred recently, involved the destruction of property belonging to residents and the physical assault of the Okaighele, who was said to have collapsed and subsequently been rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, where he is currently receiving treatment.

Speaking to journalists, Mrs Ekhator Glory, the heavily pregnant wife of the Okaighele, alleged that she was attending to her business in her shop when Omoregbe and a group of men arrived in a vehicle, accompanied by policemen.

According to her, the men allegedly began destroying chairs and crates of drinks outside her shop, prompting her to raise an alarm.

She said her husband, who was working behind their house at the time, rushed out after hearing her cries to find out what was happening.

“Before I could explain anything to my husband, Omoregbe ordered his men to beat him. They continued beating him until he fainted,” she alleged.

Mrs Ekhator further alleged that it was after her husband had collapsed that the policemen who accompanied the group moved in and took him away.

She said she and other community members subsequently went to the Area Command in Ekiadolor to report the incident, but were allegedly directed to the police division in the area.

According to her, they later encountered some of the policemen who had taken her husband away, with one of the officers allegedly telling them that the victim was already very weak when he was arrested and had subsequently been handed over to Omoregbe.

Mrs Ekhator said they were later informed that her husband had been taken to a roadside facility identified as Mama Fumi Clinic.

“On getting there, I met my husband gasping for breath and placed on oxygen. We quickly took him to UBTH, where he is now lying down and we are praying for his survival,” she said.

She questioned the circumstances surrounding the alleged arrest and assault, saying the involvement of policemen in an operation where her husband was allegedly beaten by armed men was particularly disturbing.

“If the police came to arrest my husband, why would they allow armed thugs to beat him to the point where he fainted?” she asked.

Also speaking, Nosakhare Stanley, vice chairman of the community, said he was not present when the incident occurred but was alerted by telephone and immediately contacted the community’s lawyer.

Stanley said the lawyer proceeded to the Area Command in Ekiadolor, where the commander allegedly denied authorising any arrest operation in the community.

He added that the Divisional Police Officer also reportedly denied sending officers to carry out the alleged arrest.

The community leader described the alleged incident as unacceptable, particularly if it is established that police officers were present while the victim was being assaulted.

He alleged that Omoregbe had previously threatened members of the community and claimed that he himself had been attacked by suspected thugs in the past, an incident which he said resulted in his spending two days at a police hospital.

Stanley said the present dispute was connected to an alleged claim by Omoregbe over ownership of land the community considers its ancestral home.

He maintained that Uniaro has no boundary with the area being claimed by Omoregbe, insisting that the community’s boundaries are with Utekon, separated by a river, and Uzoguo.

“We are law-abiding people and we do not want to take the law into our hands. That is why we are appealing to the governor, the Oba of Benin and the security agencies to come to our aid,” Stanley said.

The community is demanding an investigation into the alleged attack, particularly the circumstances surrounding the involvement of policemen in the operation and the subsequent condition of the Okaighele.

When contacted for a response, Eno Ikeodem, spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, initially advised that the victim should report the matter at the nearest police station for proper documentation.

When informed that the matter had already been reported and that the Ekiadolor Area Command and Division had denied authorising an arrest operation, Ikeodem said the state command would refer the matter to the appropriate unit for investigation.

She added that any police officer found to have acted improperly would be made to face the full weight of the law,

The police spokesperson stressed that nobody is above the law and warned that anyone found dropping the name of the Commissioner of Police to engage in criminal activities would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Efforts to obtain Omoregbe’s response to the allegations were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.