Residents and community stakeholders around Back of Stadium, Stadium Complex, the Akenzua axis, Ekenwan Road corridor, Omomo Street and Isibor Street have appealed to the Edo State Government to urgently intervene over alleged encroachment on a major drainage network constructed decades ago under the administration of the late Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, then Governor of the former Bendel State. According to residents, the drainage system has served as the primary channel for evacuating storm water in the area for more than 40 years, with several drainage channels converging at the location now reportedly under threat. They allege that individuals have acquired or sold portions of the land around the convergence point, raising fears that any obstruction to the channel could prove disastrous during heavy rainfall, and claim that a recent attempt to sink a borehole on the disputed land failed to penetrate the concrete structure covering the waterway, evidence they say confirms the drainage infrastructure still lies beneath the surface. The matter has reportedly drawn the attention of Edo State authorities responsible for protecting government property, with some arrests already made in connection with the alleged encroachment, though residents are demanding a more thorough investigation and stronger intervention to fully protect the corridor. The community is calling on the state government to investigate the alleged roles of Benco Irowa, identified as a member of the Edo State Security Corps, Ikponmwonsa Aiwerioba, and one Mr Nwangue, a resident of Akenzua whom residents describe as a central figure behind activities surrounding the disputed land. They further allege that Nwangue is connected to the production or provision of purportedly fake or forged government documents allegedly used to facilitate dealings around the drainage corridor, allegations they stress have not been independently established and require thorough investigation by the appropriate authorities. Residents are specifically appealing to the Governor of Edo State, the Commissioner for Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, the Commissioner for Environment and the Chairman of Oredo Local Government Area to conduct an on site inspection, arguing that a physical visit would allow officials to see the drainage network, its convergence point and the extent of the alleged encroachment firsthand. The community warned that any collapse, blockage or serious obstruction of the drainage system could trigger widespread flooding across Back of Stadium, Stadium Complex, the Akenzua axis, parts of Ekenwan Road from the Stadium Road junction, Omomo Street and Isibor Street, putting homes, businesses, roads and public infrastructure at risk, and urged the state government to act decisively, insisting the matter is not merely a land dispute but a critical environmental and public safety issue that demands attention before disaster strikes.
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