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Kingmakers of Uneme-Uzanu in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State have sent a notification/petition to the Chairman of the Area Council, Hon Benedictta Attoh, intimating her of the removal of Benjamin Ikani as the Oliola of Uneme-Uzanu.

The petition dated September 22, 2024, was endorsed by the Onotu of Uzanu, Chief Emmanuel Ikemeh, the Anogie of Uzanu, Chief Peter Ajegba and the Vice-President of Uzanu Progressive Union, Mr. Benjamin Salami.

The petition, a copy of which was sent to the Area Commander, Agenebode; Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Uzanu Divisional Police Headquarters; Clan Head, South Uneme clan; and, Director of State Security, Agenebode, came on the heels of an earlier petition to the Oliola of Anegbette and Clan Head of South Uneme Clan, dated September 2, 2024 signed by six Uzanu chiefs and three other prominent sons of Uzanu.

The signatories to the petition were the Onotu of Uzanu, Chief Emmnauel Ikeme, the Anogie of Uzanu, Chief Peter Ajegba, the Ogievhokha of Uzanu, Chief Jimoh Shaibu, the Osese of Uzanu, Chief James Aluigbe, the Ogiegbai of Uzanu, Chief Ephraim Abu.

The other signatories comprised Chief Kasimu Kadiri, Mr Joseph Momoh Jn (Youth Chairman), and Mr Sani Momodu (former Youth Chairman).

In the September 2, 2024 petition, entitled: “Petition for the removal of Banjamin Ikani as the Oliola of Uzanu”, the signatories called for the immediate removal of Benjamin Ikani from his position as the Oliola of Uzanu.

They predicated their removal of the traditional ruler on eight grounds including torture and inhumane treatment meted out to three community elders namely Mr Kenya, Mrs Abide an Mrs Michael Ayegbeni- who is Adegbomo’s mother in August 2021.

They claimed that for the first time in the community, the three elders were tied to a stake overnight on a trumped up and unsubstantiated charge of witchcraft while the Chief Benjamin Ikani ordered that they should be whipped and water poured on them overnight.

They also cited the inhumane treatment meted out to a woman in 2021. “Ikani again instructed the feeding of one Acheluwa Esther with excreta and was also forced to drink water to ensure the excreta was properly swallowed. This is a heinous act that violates human dignity,” they alleged in the petition.

They listed other alleged offences of the traditional ruler to include intimidation and threat to life, unlawful lease of community resources, misappropriation of community funds, threats of violence and harm, instigating crisis between Uzanu and its neighbouring communities, and causing disharmony among the palace chiefs and unlawful turbaning of chiefs.

Stating that they could not watch the developments continue unchecked, they decided in the meeting held on the 21st of September 2024 to remove Benjamin Ikani from his position as the Oliola of Uzanu.

They called for the immediate setting up of a committee to investigate his acts/actions with a view to compelling him to account for his wrongdoings.

They also demanded protection for community members from further harm or intimidation; restoration of community resources and funds misappropriated by Ikani; and, immediate resolution, mandating the Oliola-in-Council to take over the affairs of the community pending the appointment of a substantive Oliola.

Both petitions sighted by our reporter were in pari materia as both centred on the alleged atrocities of Chief Ikani.

The petition to the Etsako East Local Government Chairman, dated September 22, 2024, was received on September 25, 2024, in the Office of the Chairman and accordingly acknowledged with a stamp of the Local Government.