The Edo State Government, under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo, has sealed a brothel shockingly located inside a primary school in Esan West Local Government Area. This revelation came Thursday as part of a broader statewide operation aimed at reclaiming public land from illegal occupants and land grabbers.
At a press conference in Benin City, the State Coordinator for the Protection of Government Property, Eugene Okolosie, dropped a bombshell: thousands of government-owned plots — including public schools — have been brazenly taken over by individuals and syndicates. But the discovery of a full-fledged brothel operating on school grounds? That crossed a line.
“In Ujuele Primary School, a brothel was literally operating within the school premises,” Okolosie revealed. “We moved in and sealed it off. It’s outrageous and shameful that anyone would think this is acceptable. We are currently in discussions with the governor on how to repurpose the property.”
Okolosie disclosed that more than 2,000 plots of land have so far been recovered from encroachers. But that’s just scratching the surface — over 150,000 houses across Edo are reportedly built on government land. One historic site under attack? The iconic Edo moats, with nearly 7% already overtaken by illegal development.
Even Ambrose Alli University has not been spared, with forged documents and community complicity leading to the sale of school land. Thankfully, about 90% of that land has been reclaimed.
And it’s not just brothels—Okolosie cited another bizarre case in Iyoba where a kitchen was set up next to a classroom. “How do you expect students to concentrate when the aroma of stew is filling the classroom?” he asked, visibly appalled.
In just two months, the agency has received over 3,000 petitions from outraged communities and whistleblowers concerning illegal land grabs. The response? Swift action, investigations, and legal steps to reclaim stolen public assets.
“We are committed to ending this madness. The days of impunity are over,” Okolosie warned, noting that culprits are already being interrogated and prosecuted.
Commending Governor Okpebholo, Okolosie praised the administration for empowering the agency with a team of legal professionals to ensure diligent prosecution of offenders. “This isn’t just a media show — people will be held accountable,” he affirmed.
As Edo ramps up its war against land theft, public outrage grows over how deep the rot has gone. From classrooms turned into kitchens to brothels inside schools, the question now is: how did we let it get this bad?
But one thing is clear — the Okpebholo administration seems ready to take the fight head-on. And this time, the law isn’t looking the other way.
Leave a Reply