From Moshood Karim
The Benin Traditional Council (BTC) has called on security agencies in Edo State to remain alert following recent claims by individuals from the Igbanke community asserting their identity as members of the Igbo ethnic group.
The BTC’s concern stems from the potential for unrest as these claims, which lack historical grounding, have begun to stir tensions within the region.
In a statement released to Uptown Press Nigeria, the BTC clarified that the Igbanke people have deep historical roots linked to Benin. While, the Igbanke community’s language has been influenced by interactions with neighbouring ethnic groups, particularly the Ika of Delta State, their identity remains fundamentally tied to Benin heritage.
The council condemned the efforts of a group of self-proclaimed Igbanke individuals attempting to redefine their community’s identity and wrongly claiming Igbo lineage.
“These individuals are engaging in a revisionist narrative that contradicts established history,” the statement noted. “The Igbanke people are known for their enlightenment and industriousness and have ancestrally paid homage to the Oba of Benin, reinforcing their status as integral members of Edo State’s cultural tapestry.”
Notably, the BTC pointed out that historically, titles such as Obi or Eze, associated with Igbo leadership, have never existed in Edo State, including Igbanke, before the establishment of the Bendel State Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict in 1979. The Council therefore called on the so-called dissident group to cease their activities before they face legal consequences for their actions.
The BTC statement continued, “If they claim to be non-Benin, what legal basis supports their claims to the titles of Obi or Eze within the context of previous governance in the Midwest and Bendel State?”
It emphasised that the lineage of Igbanke Enigies, who have traditionally served under the Oba of Benin, confirms their rightful place within the kingdom’s history.
The Council denounced any attempts of rebellion against the longstanding traditions of the Benin Kingdom, describing recent actions by certain suspended leadership figures in Igbanke as sacrilegious.
The BTC urged the public, particularly security personnel, to remain vigilant against potential disturbances stemming from this misguided quest for identity.
The Council affirmed that the Igbanke community has historically been known for its peaceful and law-abiding nature and must not allow a small faction of misguided individuals to drag them into unnecessary conflict. The BTC’s call for vigilance comes at a crucial time, when insecurity is at the front row of discussion in Edo State.
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