Tension is mounting in Benin City, Edo State, following allegations by a real estate operator, Mr. Charles Osagie Amadasun, that his life and that of his family are under serious threat over a lingering land dispute in Iquosodin Community.

Amadasun, who resides at No. 37 Wisdom Street, off Benin-Lagos Express Road, told reporters that his troubles began after he sold several plots of land in the community over a decade ago to different buyers who took full possession without any issues at the time.

He explained that the crisis started after a change in community leadership, when a newly elected chairman allegedly declared the land “sacred” and linked to traditional deities, insisting that no form of development should take place on it. This development, he said, prompted buyers to return and demand refunds for transactions concluded nearly ten years earlier.

According to him, efforts to resolve the dispute amicably through dialogue with community leaders failed, as tensions escalated into threats. “They warned that if I don’t return their money, they will kill me. The threats later extended to my wife and children,” he alleged, noting that the intimidation began around December 3, 2025.

The situation reportedly took a violent turn on February 1, 2026, when unknown persons allegedly attacked his residence at night and set the building ablaze while his family was asleep. He said they narrowly escaped through the back door after being alerted by a gatekeeper, who was tragically killed during the incident.

Amadasun further claimed that despite reporting the threats and subsequent attack to the police, he has not received adequate protection. He added that he has since received a threatening letter accompanied by photographs of his family, heightening fears for their safety. As of the time of filing this report, police authorities have yet to issue an official statement, while concerns continue to grow over rising cases of violent land disputes in the state.