By Crusoe Osagie

With the news of a bomb explosion in Okpella that claimed one life and injured another on Monday, January 15, 2018, and the growing anxiety in the area over their safety and security, it is now clear that the concern earlier expressed by the Edo State Government that it received intelligence report of a clandestine plot by a sponsored militia group to cause mayhem in the community, was no speculation after all.

The incident should shut the mouths of conspiracy theorists and arm chair critics who wasted no time in attacking Governor Godwin Obaseki’s directive that law and order be allowed to prevail in Okpella. Between Monday night and Thursday this week, newspapers, broadcast channels and various social media platforms have been awash with the news of the bomb explosion in Okpella. One account said the incident sent jitters down the spines of people in the communities, who took the news to their traditional ruler, His Royal Highness (HRH) Okuopellagbe of Okpella, Alhaji Andrew Dirisu, for onward transmission to the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki.

According to a report by a national newspaper of January 17, 2018, with the headline Bomb factory discovered in Edo, one killed in blast “A suspected bomb factory has been uncovered in Iddo, Okpella, in Estako East local government area of Edo State after one of the explosives exploded. One of the suspected bomb makers was killed in the explosion and one of the victim’s legs was chopped off by the blast.”

The report further said: “The building where the suspected bombs were manufactured is a three- bedroom apartment which the villagers said was occupied by some men from Kogi State. Eyewitnesses said they ran for safety when they heard the explosion on Monday evening.”

A source in the village said youths in the area mobilised and nabbed some occupants of the building. One of the occupants, who reportedly escaped with a car loaded with prepared explosives, arms and ammunitions, abandoned the vehicle along a bush path and fled. President of Iddo Youth Movement, Mohammad Mohammad, was quoted in the newspaper as saying: “We all came out when we heard the sound and informed the people that explosion killed somebody. When we got to the place one of the occupants we met immediately escaped in a vehicle.

“So, the youths gave him a hot chase shouting that he had killed somebody and he was subsequently arrested and taken to the Divisional Police Officer before his onward transfer to the area commander. “Wife of one of the suspects and her children were also taken into custody.

Empty cans and other explosive making materials littered the apartment when our correspondent visited the place on Tuesday.” Presenting the prevailing sense of fear in Okpella in the past few to Governor Obaseki on Tuesday in Benin City, the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella His Royal Highness Alhaji Andrew Dirisu, with chiefs from other clans in the area, lauded the governor’s advice that BUA International Limited should abide by the Stop Work Order issued by the Federal Government in the interest of peace in the community and the state.

The Okuokpellagbe said: “The visionary leadership style of your Excellency, exemplified by your consistent and swift responses to issues that threaten the peace, order and good governance of the state necessitated this brief, to once again put on record admiration for you and to also seek your intervention in related matters.

“There is no gain-saying the fact that your recent visit to my domain and the executive order thereof in relation to the impasse between BUA Group and Dangote Group of companies on the Obu limestone, Okpella, is an attestation to your administration’s resolve to ensure peace and order in all the nook and crannies of the state. Okpella kingdom being the host community of the aforementioned companies, completely associates with government’s position on the matter, hinged on peace, order and security.” In his response, Obaseki said he was worried about the events in Okpella, such as the reign of an armed group terrorising the community and that he has directed the commissioner of police and the Director of Department of State Services (DSS) in the state, to commence search for bombs and other weapons and dis-arm the militia group operating in the community. “We cannot pretend that things are fine. We must move arms out of private hands in that community and ensure peace returns to that domain.

Your Royal Highness, if not for the explosion that rocked the community where one person died, you would not have known that explosives of such nature were in private hands in your domain. In the last one year Okpella has recorded the highest rate of incidents in Edo State. I cannot sit down without taking action,” the governor said,” Obaseki said. Some people have inferred that the Okpella bomb facility might have been the handiwork of Boko Haram terrorist group. Yet, days after the explosion and unlike the Boko Haram sect, no comment has been issued by the sect. The question then is, if Boko Haram is not the owner of the bomb facility, then who owns it?

As we await the report of the investigation by the police, the Edo State Government condemns the resort to self help by any group or companies through the sponsorship of a militia group to fight its cause. Our position on the wisdom behind Obaseki’s decision has not changed. We maintain that the Governor is taking proactive steps to protect his people and prevent the state from becoming another killing field.
To cast aspersions on Obaseki for his proactive efforts to protect the lives of his people in Okpella is senseless to say the least. Governor Obaseki is resolute about fulfilling his obligation to protect Edo people and will not be swayed by the cacophony of voices, knowing that he is the one that will be blamed should there be mayhem in Okpella tomorrow.

Obaseki has resolved to ensure that this is not the fate of Edo people in Okpella or elsewhere in Edo State. What is required of all Edo people is their full support for the state government and not idle talk or a display of ignorance by the opposition political parties.

●Osagie is the Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy

Source:
https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/01/bomb-explosion-death-okpella-feared-descent-anarchy/

This is what you get by voting old folks into government

maybe they want to use it on Fulani herdsmen in their state

Plot gone wrong maybe