IJAW-BENIN TENSION: ‘Benin May Be Set Ablaze’ If Crisis Escalates, N’delta Activist Warns Gov. Okpebholo

By Osaro Michael, Benin

Prominent Niger Delta activist, Comrade Ozobo Austin, alias King of the dragons has warned that continued escalation of the current tension between Ijaw and Bini communities in Edo State could lead to widespread violence, urging Governor Monday Okpebholo to intervene urgently.

The activist, Ozobo, known for his outspokenness in Niger Delta said failure to address the growing demands of the Ijaw people in the state could “set Benin on flame.”

“The situation is getting out of hand. If the government does not act now, we may witness a crisis that will consume Bini people,” he warned. “Benin may be set ablaze if this current tension is allowed to escalate.”

He appealed to Governor Monday Okpebholo to step in immediately and initiate dialogue between the leaders of the Ijaw communities to prevent breakdown of law and order with a view of considering the demands of the Ijaw people in the state.

According to him, the Ijaws were the predominant tribe in the current Edo territory before the coming of Benin and other tribes in the current Edo State, adding that calling Ijaws tenants is provocative and could lead to serious escalation of tension.
He stressed that social media attacks and hate speech were worsening the situation.

He demanded that the governor should take action by making modalities to present staff of office to the five Ijaw monarchs in the state, INEC should undergo fresh delineation exercise in the Ijaw Settlements with a view of creating separate two state constituencies and one federal constituency for the Ijaws in the state.

He further called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and NSA to prevail on Okpebholo, INEC and others authorities to address the prolonged concerns of the Ijaw people in the state.

Ozobo reaffirmed that only creating independent state and federal constituencies would bridge the political imbalance suffered by the Ijaw people in the state.

However, both Ijaw and Bini leaders have in recent weeks traded accusations on social media, raising fears of a possible clash.

Security agencies in the state have, however, been placed on alert to monitor developments in the affected areas.