Community Seeks Oba of Benin, Govt Interventions Over Alleged Destruction of Farm Crops, Sale of Farm Lands By Monday Igbinoba
By Simeon OSAJIE
The inhabitants of Ekole Community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, have raised the concern over the alleged destruction of their farm crops and sale of farm lands by one Monday Igbinoba.
The inhabitants of the community in their numbers, protested to the state secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, with songs and placards to express their displeasure.
Addressing Journalists on behalf of the community, the Secretary, Mr. Elvis Obaruyi said the people of the community have been met with hardship since their crops have been destroyed.
He accused Mr. Monday Igbinoba of being responsible for their present hardship.
Mr. Obaruyi alleged that the said Igbinoba is not a native of the community but came to settle there some years ago.
According to him, “We are so surprised that someone who came to settle in our community is now the person calling the shorts and destroyed our farm crops and allocating our farm lands to a company called Denco Agro Processing Limited.”
He accused Igbinoba of conniving with called Denco Agro Processing Limited to destroy their farm crops thereby throwing the inhabitants into starvation.
“This Monday Igbinoba is not from Ikole Community. He came to our community years ago as an agent and he has sold the entire community to called Denco Agro Processing Limited without our knowledge.
“He is also parading himself as the Odionwere of Ekole Community. He is not from our community but he is bulldozing every part of our community, destroying the people’s crops, which is the major source of the livelihood of the people”, Obaruyi added.
Obaruyi further appealed to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II and the Edo State government to urgently wade in and save the inhabitants of the area from total starvation and from the breakdown of laws and other in the community as they are known to be law abiding citizen of the state.
In swift reaction through a telephone call, Mr. Monday Igbinoba who referred Journalists to his secretary, Mr. James Enofe Omoregie, said that the issue of land given to the called Denco Agro Processing Limited was agreed upon by all the elders in the community including himself.
Igbinoba who said that he is currently the Acting Odionwere of the community added that the issue of who becomes the substantive Odionwere might likely be resolved soon as they have been scheduled to meet with the Oba of Benin on June 10, 2025.
