Indigenes of Oghede in Ovia Northeast Local Government of Edo State, yesterday protested the alleged destruction of their buildings and tombs by soldiers, who, they said, claimed ownership of the land.
The protesters, who carried placards, alleged that the soldiers came from Ekenwan Barracks in Benin.
They wondered how the military would allegedly acquire their ancestral home without documents.
The protesters’ leader, Chief Festus Aghahowa, said the only acquisition the Army made in the area was between 1964 and 1965, while a demarcation was made.
He said: “We took the matter to Oba of Benin’s palace, under Oba Erediauwa. The Army has not done any other acquisition, besides the one that was done during the reign of his father, Oba Akenzua II. So, the soldiers should stay in their barracks.
“They are claiming that they made a second acquisition, whereas there is nothing like that. We have gone to court, but they have been frustrating the efforts of the court with frivolous motions.
“The more we complain, the harder they (invading soldiers) are to us. They are committing all sorts of atrocities. They have been using bulldozers to destroy our structures. Even where people were buried, they destroyed the land, including the dead. They said we could not live and erect any structure within 200 feet.”
One of the demonstrators, Rev. David Ugolor, said the land his family acquired in 2013 to bury the wife of his elder brother, who died in the United States of America (USA), was invaded and the tomb destroyed.
A widow, Mrs. Faith Omoregie, said: “My late husband built a house (bungalow) for me. I did not have a child for him. So, my husband’s family gave me the bungalow as my inheritance. This is all I have. The soldiers are now saying I must pack out. We want the government to rescue us.”
Spokesman for 4 Brigade Capt. Yemi Sokoya denied the allegations.
He said: “The land belongs to the Nigerian Army, but the community’s elders keep selling the plots of land to civilians. The Army took them to court and the presiding judge ordered that nobody should continue work on the land, pending the determination of the matter.
“Since the matter is in court, the protesters should allow the court to do its work, rather than telling lies.”
Sokoya said the indigenes were warned to discontinue the lawlessness, but they did not listen.