Oodua Group Warns Merchants Of Violence Against Crossing ‘Benin Red Lines’

A socio-cultural organisation, Oodua Peoples Congress, has warned merchants of violence against crossing the Benin red lines, amid worsening security crisis in Nigeria.

The group issued the stern warning during a peaceful rally to some Government institutions and Oba of Benin palace in Benin City, Edo State Capital where it pledged to assist security agencies in fighting violent crimes.

Prince Sylvester Eweka, who led the group, stated that they could no longer fold their arms, watching with utter consternation agents of destabilization cast aspersion on Benin traditional institution, emphasising that doomsday awaits evil doers in Edo land.

According to him, “We are here today due to the strange happenings in Edo land. It has been long, and we have been seeing it, but we do not want to take the laws into our hands.

“Our fathers and mothers can hardly go to their farms without been kidnapped or killed. We are ready to support the development and protection of Edo State.

“The situation is now becoming an embarrassment. Some people now cast aspersion on Edo.
Some of them feel that they have militants, and that they can Lord it over us. No. We will resort them. That will no longer happen again. We cannot be in our Community and we are afraid”, Eweka said.

Other leaders of OPC in the State, Comrade Alfa Suleiman, and Tina Balogun, also pledged pledged to support the fight against insecurity with their numerical strength and resist any form of aggression against the State, citing historical antecedent of Benin Kingdom.

Responding on behalf of the Benin palace, Chief Uyi Okungbowa (the Ogua of Benin, who was joined by Chief Emmanuel Iyase (the Okao No’reguae of Ologbo and Ehor Dukedoms in Benin) and Chief John Aiyamekhue (the Obayagbon of Benin) said the Palace has acknowledged their concerns and will communicate to the concerned authority accordingly while urging them to be lawful and peaceful at all times.