Outrage as Land Speculators take Over Burial Site in Ugheoloko, South Ibie
Residents and indigenes of Ugheoloko, Iyakpi, South Ibie, in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State have cried out over alleged malicious plans of land speculators to take over their more than one hundred years old burial site where their kith and kin have been interred for more than a century.
The peaceful community was thrown into confusion when some yet-to-be-identified land speculators took over the cemetery for redevelopment in a juxtaposed style without consulting community stakeholders and locals.
Reacting to the development, astute human rights lawyer and indigent of Ugheoloko, Iyakpi, Dr Abdul Mahmud in a press statement called on the government of Edo state to intervene and protect the sacred heritage of the community against the nefarious activities of fraudulent estate developers within the area.
The human right activist further questioned the motive of allocating burial ground for redevelopment as sad, provocative and act that could trigger crisis within the village.
“It is with sadness I received the news of the illegal and reprehensible sale of my descendants and ancestral Ugheoloko burial ground in Iyakpi, Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo State, by unknown persons to land speculators. This sacred ground, which holds the remains of my father, grandfather, grandmother, great grandfather and mother, and my generations of forebears stretching back to the first settlers who migrated from Uhen near Benin, represents a profound cultural and historical legacy.
Dr Mahmud linked the illegal sale and proposed redevelopment of the burial site to a syndicate of ritualists whose only intent is to mine human skulls for ritual purposes and called on the security forces to wade into the crisis.
“The desecration of this burial ground is not only an affront to the Ugheoloko descendants but also an attack on the heritage and dignity of my entire community. This disturbing illegal sale appears to be driven by the sinister desires of buyers seeking to mine human skulls and bones for ritual purposes. Such criminal acts not only undermine the sanctity of human life and the sacredness of burial grounds but also violate fundamental rights, cultural heritage, and societal norms.
“I call on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately investigate this criminal act and bring the perpetrators to justice, emphasising that such actions threaten to erode the moral and legal fabric of society. Furthermore, I am urging the Government of Edo State to take decisive steps to protect and preserve ancestral burial grounds across the state from desecration and unlawful acquisition.
Mr Dauda Oshioma, an indigene of the area in a telephone interview with Housing TV Africa blamed the current kingship stool tussle in the area as a contributing factor in land grabs within the area. “The chaos surrounding the kingship dispute here has led to significant problems and many more. Nearly all pristine ancestral forests have been sold off by individuals associated with both factions fighting for control of the throne. What can we do? A visibly angry Oshioma said.
In a telephone interview, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Moses Joel Yamu said the issue has not yet been reported. At the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the warring leaders of both camps in the kingship tussle to get their reactions proved abortive as their numbers were not reachable.
