Concerned Civil Society Organisation in Edo state has frowned against the restoration of Community Development Associations (CDAs) in Edo state.
The body said their return will bring back their illegal activities like extortions, destruction of property and brutalization of citizens.
They also decried the brutalization of one of their members, Comrade Kelly Osunbor whose house was destroyed by suspected thugs in Amagba community in Oredo Local Government Area.
Addressing journalists in Benin City, spokesperson for the Concerned Civil Society Organisation, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbidi, said Edo State government should reinvigorate the Edo State Private Property Protection (PPP) law to boost the confidence of investors so that they could commit to capital intensive and developmental projects without fear of molestation from CDAs, and land grabbers.
He asserted,” Your Excellency, you are aware that due to the need to ensure that the people of Edo State can thrive peacefully and develop, there was need to ensure that the state did not in any way militate against growth and development within the state.
“After needed inputs from various stakeholders, including His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, the government enacted Edo State Private Property Protection (PPP) law in 2016 which was enforced by a committee to ensure that the illegal activities of CDAs were minimised to the barest minimum.
“This was further strengthened in subsequent years and the results of the stability included speedy development of various parts of Edo State previously plagued by the harassment and intimidation by members of Community Development Association (CDAs) who would not only halt legal construction activities in legally procured plots of land within the state, but also inflict various levels of bodily harm on both citizens and investors in the state.
“It is worthy of note that these CDAs have resurfaced with their illegal activities which include extortion, destruction of properties and physical attacks aimed at stalling development in the state due to the malicious interests of chairmen of such CDAs.
“As a matter of fact, on the 4th of August 2025, members of such CDA attacked a citizen of the state, Comrade Osunbor Kelly and destroyed several properties. They threatened to attack developers that fail settle them.”
Ogbidi said such illegal acts by members of the CDA have resulted in clashes in various parts of the state (especially in Edo-South) and also encouraged general insecurity because government did not stop the violent acts of the CDAs. This they said is evident in the simultaneous increase in cult killings, gang wars, robbery and kidnapping in the state.
Narrating how he was attacked, Comrade Osunbor said they were renovating a security house when the thugs came to impose levy on them.
“I would have given them the money they wanted and they would just go. I was beaten up, traumatized and my property destroyed.
“I called Ebo Amagba to come to my rescue. He said that those guys were doing their lawful duty, that the community has rules and regulations,” he lamented.
The President of the Talakawa Parliament, Comrade Kola Edokpayi, appealed to the Oba of Benin to set up committee that would be monitoring the illegal activities of the CDAs.
