Communal dispute: Ebhodiza community spokesman escape death
By Osaretin Olaye
Ekpoma: The spokesman of Ebhodiza community of Ekpoma, in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State – Jack Ihonre, luckily escaped being killed by communal thugs as a result of a lingering crisis over land dispute between his community Ebhodiza, and neighbouring Ukpoke community.
Jack Ihonre
The Nigerian Observer learnt that the crisis which started since 21st December, 2015, when Ukpoke community evaded Ebhodiza community, has resulted to the loss of about 86 members of the community and wanton destruction of property. This has made most of the people to flee from the community, to places where they can be guaranteed protection and security.
Our findings revealed that Jack Ihonre who was preparing to go to work in the morning of 21st December, 2015, heard a knock on his door, and as he opened the door, three middle aged men dragged him outside and started beating him, using machet to inflict injury on him.
According to Jack Ihonre, as they were beating him, he heard them saying “we are going to kill you today especially when we realized that you are the spokesman of Ebhodiza. We warned you people to leave our land alone, but you refused. You must die today”. He said he lied on the ground as if he was dead. This made the thugs to leave him and ran away. After they left, he stood up and ran to a hiding place.
Still not sensing to be safe in his hideout, he reported the issue to the NeEkpoma Police Station Divisional Headquarters on January 16, 2016.
The father of Jack, Mr. Ephraim Ihonre, in an affidavit, said all members of Ebhodiza community are on the run for their lives. He said as result of the communal dispute between the two communities which later degenerated to communal war dated 21st December, 2015, his son- Jack Ihonre decided to run away from Nigeria and seek refuge in Italy for the safety of his life. The father also said he fled to Benin City where he now resides, saying his property has need destroyed.
Mr. Ephraim Ihonre said Ukpoke community was persistently creating troubles, by burning down the ancestral home of Ebhodiza people which has led the elders of the community to flee to other locations. Now, it is difficult for anyone to relocate back to Ebhodiza community.
Investigation reveals that Mr. Jack Ihonre relocated to Italy on May, 2016 to seek refuge.
Source: Nigerian Observer Newspaper
Ekpoma: The spokesman of Ebhodiza community of Ekpoma, in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State – Jack Ihonre, luckily escaped being killed by communal thugs as a result of a lingering crisis over land dispute between his community Ebhodiza, and neighbouring Ukpoke community.
Jack Ihonre
The Nigerian Observer learnt that the crisis which started since 21st December, 2015, when Ukpoke community evaded Ebhodiza community, has resulted to the loss of about 86 members of the community and wanton destruction of property. This has made most of the people to flee from the community, to places where they can be guaranteed protection and security.
Our findings revealed that Jack Ihonre who was preparing to go to work in the morning of 21st December, 2015, heard a knock on his door, and as he opened the door, three middle aged men dragged him outside and started beating him, using machet to inflict injury on him.
According to Jack Ihonre, as they were beating him, he heard them saying “we are going to kill you today especially when we realized that you are the spokesman of Ebhodiza. We warned you people to leave our land alone, but you refused. You must die today”. He said he lied on the ground as if he was dead. This made the thugs to leave him and ran away. After they left, he stood up and ran to a hiding place.
Still not sensing to be safe in his hideout, he reported the issue to the NeEkpoma Police Station Divisional Headquarters on January 16, 2016.
The father of Jack, Mr. Ephraim Ihonre, in an affidavit, said all members of Ebhodiza community are on the run for their lives. He said as result of the communal dispute between the two communities which later degenerated to communal war dated 21st December, 2015, his son- Jack Ihonre decided to run away from Nigeria and seek refuge in Italy for the safety of his life. The father also said he fled to Benin City where he now resides, saying his property has need destroyed.
Mr. Ephraim Ihonre said Ukpoke community was persistently creating troubles, by burning down the ancestral home of Ebhodiza people which has led the elders of the community to flee to other locations. Now, it is difficult for anyone to relocate back to Ebhodiza community.
Investigation reveals that Mr. Jack Ihonre relocated to Italy on May, 2016 to seek refuge.
Source: Nigerian Observer Newspaper
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