By Ijeoma Umeh
Benin City – The people of Egoro Amede Community in Egoro Kingdom, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State and Emado Community in Ekpoma Edo State today, Tuesday, December 20, lauded Hon.Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga, Chairman, Edo State Private Properties Protection Committee for the timely intervention of the Committee in the boundary dispute which has threatened to burn out the embers of peace and unity that existed between the two Communities over the years.
Speaking on behalf of members of the two Communities at the end of hearing today, Chief Stephen O. Emuan, from Egoro Amede Community, thanked the Committee for the legal advice, which he said, gave both parties clear insight on how to end the feud over the Óconven, their ancestral landmark demarcating boundaries of both communities.
At the end of hearing today, the Committee struck off the matter after hearing from both parties on issues around peaceful resolution of the matter.
“You need to go and properly litigate on the issue of the Oconven, your ancestral landmark. The onus is on both communities to chart a way forward with your Enigie, so that further shifting of the ancestral boundary will not cause you further communal rift. ” Hon. Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga stated.
“You have done so much for us and given us fair hearing. We know that if it were within your jurisdiction, we would have got justice here.” Chief Emuan said.
Recall that the two Communities appeared before the Committee over disputations on the shifting of the Oconven, described as an ancestral boundary that could not be moved.
“It is a taboo to move the Oconven.” they stated.
Meanwhile, the two traditional heads of both communities had resolved to move the Emado space to 700ft and the Egoro to 1100ft.
Closing the case today, the Edo State Private Properties Protection Committee advised both communities to work with their Enigie with a view to peacefully litigating on the matter.
