Okoror and Okoror of Ikheloa Chambers acting on behalf of Henry Idemudia and Julius Ekhaguere of Iguomo Community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, have written a petition to the Benin monarch, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare 11, on the activities of some landgrabbers led by Pa Godwin Isiomoifo and Esezoboh Ebonoto recruit some others, who parade themselves as Odionwere and Okhaegele respectively despite the instruction of the Benin monarch against such and who have continually constituted themselves as a threat to peace in the community.
The duo according to Okoror and Okoror “these persons have sold off all the land in the village belonging to indigenes, as a result of this act, there is no longer free land for indigenes to farm. This has caused serious hardship on the people.
“That these persons who are non-indigenes of the village has capitalised on this and had forcefully taken over even the land belonging to the mother of your Royal Majesty.”
Going further, the petitioners said: “It is on record that from time immemorial, Iguomo Community was founded and belongs to the mother of the Oba of Benin Kingdom, but it is unfortunate that non-natives have taken over all the land and sold them; aided by Pa Godwin Isiomoifo.
“That these persons have formed and become the overlords of the entire village as innocent indigenes of the village can no longer move freely in their own village.
“That we sincerely appeal to your Royal Majesty to order these persons who are sponsored by Pa Godwin Isiomoifo whom the Oba has ordered to stop parading himself as the acting Odionwere since 2019, to desist from further acts of parading himself and selling lands belonging to the community and also to ensure that there is absolute peace in the village.”
