Edo Deaf Association Demands Justice for Slain Member
By Osehobo Ofure, Benin City
Edo State Association of the Deaf has called for justice following the gruesome murder of one of its members, Mr Efe Ogbeide who was shot and killed by gunmen in Obazagbon near Benin City over a land dispute.
In a statement issued by the association’s chairman, Omosele Kingsley Irabor, the association decried the continued victimisation, exclusion, and violence against its members, urging the authorities to take immediate action.
“This is not the first time a deaf person has been murdered in cold blood by criminal elements in society. If we do not stop these macabre killings today, tomorrow it might be any of us,” Irabor stated.
Ogbeide, a father of three, was described as a peaceful and hardworking individual. His untimely death has left his wife widowed and his children orphaned.
The association pointed out that had there been accessible information for the deaf, Ogbeide might have been aware of the dangers in the area and avoided them.
The association then called for
a thorough investigation into the killing and prosecution of the perpetrators, and requested for state scholarship for Ogbeide’s three children to support their education, as well as automatic employment for his widow to sustain the family.
The association lamented the systemic oppression of deaf people, particularly in land matters, citing similar cases where properties owned by deaf individuals were forcefully taken from them.
“Our rights to own and acquire properties as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution are being denied. When we buy land, others take it from us with force. The society should let the deaf breathe,” Irabor cautioned.
The group urged the Edo State House of Assembly and the state government to implement policies that protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
“Efe Ogbeide has paid the ultimate price, but his murder shall not be in vain. Until justice is served, we shall continue to fight for our rights, dignity, and lives,” the statement noted.
