A story of loss, displacement, and resilience spanning several decades has emerged from Benin City, where a mother and her son were reportedly forced to abandon their family home following years of threats, attacks, and alleged persecution linked to a long-standing political and ethnic rivalry dating back to Nigeria’s First Republic.
According to documents made available to journalists, the ordeal centres on the family of the late Reuben Idemudia Asemota, a retired foreman with the former Bendel State Ministry of Works, whose widow and youngest son, Osahon Asemota, allegedly fled their residence at 21 Palmer Street, off St. Saviour Road, Benin City, in 2008 after repeated security threats.
The allegations are contained in a sworn affidavit by one Abuja resident, Akaya Solomon, who detailed what he described as decades of trauma, displacement, and hardship suffered by his nephew, Osahon Asemota.
The account traces the origins of the family’s difficulties to political rivalries that emerged in the Benin Province during the struggle for the creation of the Midwestern Region in the early 1960s. Historical records show that political tensions existed between supporters of the Ogboni-Action Group alliance and the Otuedo-NCNC political bloc, both influential forces in the region at the time.
The rivalry, according to historical accounts, contributed to widespread political unrest that characterized parts of Western Nigeria during the turbulent years leading to the military intervention of 1966.
Father’s Death Leaves Family Devastated
Osahon Asemota, born on January 3, 1979, was only eight years old when he witnessed the final moments of his father, Reuben Asemota, who died on August 16, 1987, following years of declining health.
Family records indicate that the elder Asemota had served as a carpentry foreman in the old Bendel State civil service before his retirement in 1975. According to the affidavit, the family believed he was unfairly treated following his early retirement, with pension-related issues that allegedly had a political undertone, ultimately leading to severe financial hardship.
The resulting economic difficulties reportedly took a toll on his health, leading to complications from hypertension and diabetes.
According to the affidavit, young Osahon was with his father in the family living room on the evening of his death when he suddenly began bleeding from the nose. Family members rushed him to hospital, but he reportedly died before medical intervention could save him.
His death left behind a grieving widow and children who would soon face additional hardships.
Family Faces Displacement
Following the death of the family’s breadwinner, the Asemota family reportedly lost their residence and were forced to relocate to an uncompleted building under difficult living conditions.
Relatives say the experience had a profound emotional impact on the children, including Osahon and his siblings, Ekhorutomwen, and the late Nekpen Asemota (who passed away in 2020).
The affidavit further alleges that the family became targets of repeated intimidation and criminal attacks over the years.
One particularly disturbing incident reportedly involved armed men arriving at the family’s residence in search of Osahon. When they failed to find him, they allegedly left threatening messages with neighbours, warning that they would continue searching for him.
While official police records relating to the incidents could not be independently verified due to archival limitations, a senior security source familiar with the matter reportedly confirmed that the family had experienced significant trauma and security concerns over the years.
Search for Safety Abroad
Faced with growing fears for her son’s safety, Osahon’s mother eventually arranged for him to relocate to Jamaica.
What began as a search for refuge became an opportunity for academic advancement. While living in Jamaica, Osahon completed higher education studies, earned a Master’s degree in Finance, and later worked as a teacher.
However, the affidavit claims that life abroad was not without challenges.
The document alleges that Osahon Asemota encountered discrimination and xenophobic hostility because of his Nigerian background. Reports of social exclusion, workplace difficulties, and attacks during public events allegedly contributed to growing concerns for his family’s safety.
By 2016, he reportedly decided to leave Jamaica and relocate with his family to the United States.
Rebuilding a Life in America
Since settling in the United States, Asemota has worked to rebuild his life and career.
He pursued further education in Applied Behavioral Analysis and currently works as a Behaviour Consultant, supporting children with autism and developmental challenges.
According to family members, he is also pursuing certification as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst while planning further doctoral studies.
Despite establishing a new life abroad, relatives say the emotional scars of his early experiences remain significant.
A Story of Endurance
Family members describe the Asemota story as one marked by extraordinary resilience in the face of repeated personal tragedies, Political victimization, displacement, and uncertainty.
What began with the death of a father and breadwinner evolved into a decades-long journey across three continents as a family sought safety, stability, and the opportunity to rebuild.
For those close to the family, the story is not merely about politics or history, but about the human consequences of conflict and the enduring impact such experiences can have across generations.
As Osahon Asemota continues to build a new future for his family in the United States, relatives say his journey stands as a testament to perseverance despite years of hardship, loss, and displacement.
