Attack on Inikorogha: Ezekiel Appreciates Obaseki, Chief of Army Staff, 4th Brigade Commander On Quick Intervention 

By: Stephen Asaba-ase

The Spokesman of the Coalition of riverine communities, Hon. Daniel Ezekiel has expressed a profound gratitude to the governor of Edo State, His Excellency Hon. Godwin Obaseki and Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, 4th Brigade of Benin, Edo State and others for their quick intervention to dislodge hoodlums from the Inikorogha community in the Ovia West Local government area of the state.

According to a press briefing by Hon. Daniel Ezekiel on the 8th of September 2024, the Inikorogha community for the past 15 years has been under terror of a fleeing ex-agitator Robert Okubo, adding that he turned the community into a criminal den, all sorts of crimes were going on, e.g kidnapping, killing, arson, raping and oppression of the farmers in the community.

Meanwhile, Ezekiel said, on the 23rd of March 2023 to be precise, the tempo of agitation of the Coalition of riverine communities and some other progressive minds against the dastardly activities of Robert Okubo was increased.

He narrated, “Okubo was eventually invited by the then Divisional Police commander, CP Mohammad Dankwara but he refused to turn up, therefore, the Commissioner of Police decided to mobilised his special force to Inikorogha community, however, Okubo had already escaped when the Police arrived, since then Okubo as been on exile.

However, Daniel Ezekiel also emphasised that, Not until Tuesday of last week, “we saw the abnormal influx of bad boys into the Inikorogha community, amid the current electoral turbulence in the State. However, there were several unanswered questions, when the community Youth asked those hoodlums about the unusual cascade of boys with different fire arms into the community.

“These kidnappers, cultists, and armed robbers were over 70 in their numbers trooped into the peace loving community, especially from Arogbo community in Ondo State, Gelegele, Ekenwan, Igbinuba and Iboro both are Ijaw Communities under Ovia South-East local government Area Edo State had surrounded every nooks and crannies of the community with their criminal intents”, he added.

Meantime, he said, “we cried to our amiable governor, Hon. Godwin Obaseki for the looming danger, lo and behold the Military swung into action, the atmosphere in Inikorogha community was tense on the arrival of the Nigerian army, but Okubo had already fled, however, there was a gun duel between the Military and some of his criminal proxies who were found still roaming in the community at the time of the military arrival.

“The Military were able to apprehend 10 of his boys and found one thousand and one hundred (1100) voters cards inside his room.

The security situation right now in the community is calm and peaceful”, he said

“We thank and appreciate governor Godwin Obaseki, Chief of Army Staff and 4th Brigade of the Nigerian army Benin, City, Edo State for their timely intervention in returning peace back to the Inikorogha community, he stressed.