Amidst disagreement over the invasion of Okuta in Baruten local government area by neighbouring Benin Republic, fully armed soldiers on Friday, November 20, went to the affected 16 communities to get firsthand information.

The soldiers arrived in Okuta at about 3pm and had a brief meeting with the Emir of Okuta and his traditional chiefs and went to visit the affected areas.

Meanwhile, the residents of Okuta and the affected villages went about their normal business as there was no violence or threat to peace from any quarter. Efforts to speak with the Emir of Okuta, Alhaji Idris Serio Abubakar, were not successful as it was alleged to that he had been ordered from above not to speak on the matter.

According to a recent letter to the governor titled Encroachment of Nigerian Territory by Benin Republic at Okuta District of Baruten Local Government area of Kwara state, the traditional ruler warned: “Recently some pillars were reconstructed and mounted at the back of the doors of Boriya village (at river Moshi) and Benin Republic.

“The colonial pillars of Imamue to Boriya Moshi rivers is about 25km.The present land in question has the following Nigeria villages Ogamue, Munta, Bwin, Gandogbeba, Saka Yeruman Kparu, Ajuba, Simen. Kparu, Sosi Kparu, Dotin. Nkparu and Tende with not less than 22,.000 people as inhabitants, wishing to be claimed by Benin Republic. It is a terrible trespass and not acceptable to our communities.‎

“Unless the Beninoise are restricted and made to vacate the area being encroached by them, they will continue with their said encroachment thereby illegally extending their territory beyond what legally belong to them. We are not ready and will never be ready to concede this land to Benin Republic. We don’t have any place where these villages could be resettled, it is the only viable economic and farm land of the whole district.”

The Kwara state government has denied reports that 16 villages in the state have been invaded and occupied by Benin Republic.

In a statement issued by the commissioner for information and communication, Alhaji Mahmud Ajeigbe, on Friday, November 20, said the affected villages of Okuta District in Baruten local government area of the state are calm and still under the control of the federal government.

The statement further stressed that although no foreign government has erected any structure nor hoisted their national flag in any of the villages as erroneously reported in the media, the state government has alerted the security agencies on the reports.

On the contrary, the vice chairman of Baruten local council, Abdulrasheed Lafia, who doubles as the chairman of the Local Government Boundary Commission said on Friday, November 20, that the affected 16 villages actually belonged to Benin Republic based on an earlier agreement.

He said that the issue surrounding the disputed Ogomue land had been resolved since 2005.

Lafia claimed that the National Boundary Commission after it visited the site in 2004 along with officials of the state and local government boundary committees had resolved that the land actually belonged to Benin Republic.

He said the news of an invasion in the area was sponsored by disgruntled individuals who are dissatisfied with the position of the commission.

Consequently, the defence headquarters had said that no Nigerian territory will be allowed into the hands of intruders or any foreign nation and that it has set up a high powered investigative panel to probe the reported invasion of Nigeria’s territory by Benin Republic.



https://www.naij.com/644212-controversies-trail-benin-republic-invasion-kwara-state-communities-soldiers-visit.html

Why evuls nah?? Infact, lets ask Amadioha to decide who owns the land

Let there be proper head count before they proceed to defend our territorial integrity. No more tactical manoeuvre gone wrong.

Ok

I hope the yeebos and wailers on this forum will read this story. No foreigner is taking over Yoruba land....

Hope Benin republic wouldn't want to test d might of our soldiers

Just like the missing sodiers story,i ain't gonna believe this crap.

The beninoise want their lands back and you people are telling unnecessary lies.

What got me lolling is the fact that they even had their eyes on the lands for 100 years and hausas and yorubas were busy claiming ownership.Choi they wicked gan!

What more can i say than kwara state people are land grabbers.

Beninoise be like

#GiveUsOurLandsLandGrabbers

What a big SHAME to toothless Nigerian army. They beg boko haram to take amnesty.

They dialogue common Benin Republic that invaded their territory illegally.

They now read riot act to armless Biafran protesters


Someone was actually right when he referred to the federal rupublic of Nigeria as a DAMNABLE ZOO

Buhari's administration has got somuch troubles to face!