Prominent stakeholders in Okomu town, a community located in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State have called on Governor Godwin Obaseki and other influential personalities within and outside the community to help restore peace and order.

A native of the town, Chief Lawrence Yanbor, who is known as the Chief Priest and Spiritual Master of the Okomu ijaw Liberation Movement, made the resolve of the people of the area known in a message to Governor Obaseki during the week.

Giving a narrative of what led to the crisis, Yanbor stated: “For many years we felt oppressed, neglected and also denied our political and indigenous rights as the host of Okomu land in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State.

“We have over the years not been given the basic necessities of decent living like decent schools, motorable roads, industrial boreholes, infrastructure etc.

“This perceived neglect and marginalisation of our people among several other reasons have since 2010 led to our agitation that the relevant authorities – the government and others like Okomu Oil Palm Company, Ose Rubber and Okomu National Park Service should hearken to our demands for a turn of the deplorable situation to a better one for the generality of the people.

“We did a publication in a national newspaper on 24th May, 2024, where we highlighted our grievances. If the situation is resolved amicably we are willing to drop our arms and ammunition to the governor and embrace peace such that there will be no victor and no vanquished at the end of the day.