By Lucky Isibor
A top Benin Palace Chief, Osa Amadasun, the Osayagbonoba of Benin, on Wednesday, alleged that he narrowly escape death from his cousin, Joseph Imagbenikaro Amadasun, the chief priest of Ohovbe Community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo for daring to erect a storey building on his inherited family land.
He alleged that when the issue first came up some years ago, his cousin took the matter to the Palace of Oba of Benin and that the then monarch, Oba Erediauwa ruled that nobody has the right to prevent one from building his choice of house on his land in any part of Benin Kingdom.
“When my cousin, Joseph took me to the Palace of the Benin monarch, the then Oba Erediauwa over my plan of erecting a storey building on the land I inherited from my father, the then Oba pointed to the storey buildings around his Palace and told him that as far as I did not stop anyone from erecting a storey building around my palace, that nobody has the right to ban anyone from building his choice of houses on his land in his kingdom and that settled it then”, he said.
The Benin chief further alleged that trouble started on December 22, 2017 when he decided to move into the house with the help of some labourers he hired to pack his property into the building when his cousin, Imagbenikaro led some group of persons to attack him and those he employed to work for him.
He said during the attack, one of those he employed to work for him was shot in the chest, the other beaten to pulp while himself narrowly escaped death.
“I was so surprised that on December 22, 2017, my cousin, Imagbenikaro mobilized some group of persons to kill me. During the process, they shot Yusuf Buhari in his chest and Sefiu Mohammed was injured in his eyes while I narrowly escaped death”, he said.
Chief Amadasun said the matter was reported to the Oregbeni Police Station and was later transferred to Anti-Vice Unit, State Police Headquarters.
The high ranking Palace chief who said the attack took place at about 5 pm on the faithful day further alleged that Imangbenikaro had earlier stormed his house at about 4 pm to warn the labourers working for him to get out of his compound, insisting that nobody must move into the storey building.
Contacted on phone for his own side of the story, Imagbenikaro said he would not react on phone saying he should be reached on Thursday for his reaction.
However, about two hours later he sent a text message urging journalists to get his side of the story from the police.
Confirming the incident, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor said the incident happened on 22 December, 2017.
He said the chief priest, Joseph Imagbenikaho Amadasun said they got the information that herdsmen were coming to invade the community and on that, they decided to mobilize the people of the community for self defense.
DSP Nwabuzor said the police have stepped up investigation into the matter assuring that once investigations are completed those culpable will be charged to court.
