Assassination Attempt: Man on the run over family land crisis in Edo Sta

This is not the best of time for the family of Igili in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State as family land dispute is fast tearing the members apart.

The man at the centre of the dispute, Mr. Femi Igili, a 23-Year barber seems to be at the receiving end.

Femi who is supposed to be the rightful owner of the controversial large piece of land located at Uwo Community, Sapele road, Edo State, through inheritance has a different story to tell.

Already, the last fracas which ensued between him and other family members has left Femi with a gunshot injury which he sustained from a gunshot fired at him from suspected assassins on the 5th November, 2021.

Speaking to our correspondent, Femi stated that the gunshot was fired at him, while he was inspecting the land in question by some strange looking men.

Narrating the ordeal, Femi said “It was in that process of inspecting the land, that one of the suspected assassins fired a gunshot which hit my right hand, leaving a wound.”

According to Femi, it took the quick intervention of some village hunters who rushed him to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Benin.

Femi maintained that, the said land belongs to him by right because the father had informed him earlier before he passed on, in February 18th 2020.

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He however, told this paper that, no sooner than the father died than other family members began to feel jealous because of the large expanse of the land in question.

“Let me tell you. All these things happening to me is because of the land. My father told me that it belongs to me by right according to our customs and traditions being the only surviving child of our nuclear family. Now that my father is gone, they want to take it over. Because I refuse to allow them, they have been threatening my life at any slightest opportunity”.

“It was by the special grace of God that made me to survive the last quarrel. My uncle came out with the children threatening to kill me”.

Femi lamented that the situation has caused him a lot in terms of emotional and psychological issues.

He gave instances where his uncle had severally tried to locate him on two occasions, where several attempts were made to take his life.

“My brother could you believe that this my uncle has once trailed me to Lagos where I sought abode at some point. That is the extent he can go”.

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Meanwhile, our correspondent could not reach Mr. Monday Igili at the time of filing this report but a family member, Chief Isaiah Igili confirmed the long time quarrel which has caused lots of confusion and hatred within the family.

The chief also confirmed that Femi is the rightful owner of the land in dispute.

Chief Isaiah said that he has advised Femi’s uncle times without number to leave the land for the rightful owner so that peace can reign.

“I am very much aware of this case and the case has been there, even ever before Femi’s father passed on last year. In fact Femi’s father, late Emmanuel Igili and the mother, late Mabel Igili died in the course of this same battle in 2020. Now that both parents have gone, their plan is to get rid of this young man so that they can have their way”, Chief Isaiah recalled.