Three dead, scores injured, properties destroyed as intra-communal crisis erupt over leadership
…As Police, Cult Group declare lmafidon Obayuwana (Secretary), Augustine Aikhuemiamiaro and others wanted
No fewer than three persons have been reportedly killed, many injured and properties including cars and buildings burnt and destroyed over leadership struggles which were uncovered and culminated in a fracas between two factional groups in Obazagbon Community in Benin City metropolis.
Recall that Sylvester Obayuwana was the former Chairman of the Community Development Association, CDA, who later had a running battle with some people especially the current CDA Chairman, High Chief Ogbe Airbuenghan, over alleged tenure elongation.
Speaking to journalists in the community, a source who confirmed the incident but refused to disclose his identity for fear of being attacked, said that as an elder, he was privy to the ugly trend which later snowballed into crisis thereby resulting in deaths and malicious burning and destruction of properties including cars and buildings.
He said that the matter started when on 10th of October 2014, the former CDA chairman Sylvester Obayuwana, was forced out of office by the present chairman, High Chief Ogbe Airbuenghan, who wanted to take over the office by force to perpetrate perceived illegality, arising from lands grabbing which the former Chairman was always kicking against.
Meanwhile, the secretary of the Obazagbon Community, Imafidon Obayuwana, a younger brother to Sylvester Obayuwana, had always ensured accountability and transparency and resisted the attempts by the current chairman, High Chief Ogbe Airbuenghan to forcefully eject him out of office as the secretary due illegal lands deal.
According to reports, the current chairman in the exercise of his clandestine motives, brought thugs suspected to be cultists armed with guns, cutlasses and battle axes and in the course, the factional supporters of the secretary, Imafidon Obayuwana, engaged in a battle and as such, three persons were killed, while many injured, properties burnt and destroyed.
The source further said that the matter had been lingering, noting that even throughout 2015, there were series of crises in the community to the extent that no meaningful developments were achieved till on the 17th of May 2016.
The said Imafidon Obayuwana, after he was prevented from functioning as the secretary, allegedly invaded the community with his thugs and engaged the factional thugs of High Chief Ogbe Airbuenghan which led to loss of lives and properties, saying the CDA chairman due to his rich financial status, influenced the invitation of the police.
Imafidon Obayuwana, Augustine AIKHUEMIAMIARO has also escaped and have had a running battle with another rival cult group, Ebutalium Brotherhood Occult group, was declared wanted by the police and the cult group, who had vowed to stop at nothing in initiating him forcefully into the group or be killed for daring them and that during the rumble.
Augustine AIKHUEMIAMIARO (cousin to Imafidon Obayuwana) used a battle axe to cut one of the attackers, a member of the Black Axe cult “Osasu Osabor” and in revenge Osasu Osabor thereafter mobilised his thugs and cult group to invade the family house of Augustine AIKHUEMIAMIARO at Obazagbon community thinking he was around, but unfortunately, he had escaped and the angry invader furiously destroyed the house and properties in and within it and leaving with the threat to come back to look for him to kill.
The source added that as of the time of filing this report, his whereabouts (Augustine AIKHUEMIAMIARO) remain unknown, just as the police public relations officer of the Edo State Police Command, confirmed the case, insisting Imafidon Obayuwana, Augustine AIKHUEMIAMIARO his cousin has been placed on watchlists to enable him to face arrest and possible killed by the Black Axe cult.
