BENIN CITY – Two indigenes of Iguomo community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, Messrs Henry Idemudia and Julius Ekhaguere have petitioned the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II over activities of some land speculators in the community

Okoror and Okoror of Ikheloa Chambers, acting on behalf of Idemudia and Ekhaguere of said that the land speculators were led by Pa Godwin Usiomoifo and Esezoboh Ebonoto who recruit other people who parade themselves as Odionwere and Okaeghele respectively.

According to Idemudia and Ekhaguere, the duo have continually constituted themselves as a threat to peace in the community.

“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 have capitalised on this and had forcefully taken over, even the land belonging to the mother of your Royal Majesty,” they said.

They added that “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, with the aid of Pa Godwin Usiomoifo.

“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 Usiomoifo 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.”