Indigenes and residents of the Ojah community in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State are living in fear as irate youths burnt down the residence of the state Commissioner for Social Development and Gender, Christabel Ekwu, and attacked the palace of Olojah of Ojah, His Royal Highness, Oba D. S. Lawani.
The attack was said to have been carried out by youths over an age-long burial practice called the ‘sky burial’ which is said to be prescribed by a particular shrine in the community.
A resident, who pleaded anonymity said the burial involved corpses being left at the shrine or thrown into the hills around the community.
The resident stated that trouble started on Monday when a woman died and “after some findings, it was said that she was killed by the shrine, so the community wanted to give the woman the sky burial.
The source added, “However, the traditional ruler and the commissioner, who had called for the phasing out of this practice, were alleged to have invited security agencies to stop the sky burial for the woman.
“In the process, the youths clashed with the security agencies, attacked them with stones and the security agencies left. In their anger, the youths attacked the palace of the traditional ruler, vandalized it and burnt his SUV parked in the compound while the residence of the commissioner was completely razed down.
“I wonder what would have happened if the security agencies did not leave the scene. There would have bloodshed no doubt. No one knows what will happen as we are currently living in fear over the act of arson carried out by the youths.”
Meanwhile, the Okpameri Traditional Rulers Association, in a statement, condemned the arson and called for peace, while a leader from the area and House of Assembly aspirant, Joy Akpaida, also urged the youths to sheath their swords.
