Land Dispute: Iyanomo Community Appeals to Edo Government and Oba of Benin Over Army Occupation.
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Land Dispute: Iyanomo Community Appeals to Edo Government and Oba of Benin Over Army Occupation.
Residents of Iyanomo village, located in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, have called for urgent intervention from both the Edo State Government and Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, over an ongoing land dispute with the Nigerian
Army.
According to community leaders, soldiers have repeatedly entered the village without notice, demolishing homes, damaging farmlands, and digging trenches to block access roads. The military claims the land was granted to them by a former Oba of Benin and is now under Army control.
However, local residents insist the area has been their ancestral home for generations. They allege that they’ve been rendered homeless and cut off from their livelihoods, with farmlands now inaccessible and crops destroyed.
Community leaders also accused the Army of allocating parts of the land to herders from the north, whose cattle graze freely on farmlands, worsening the situation.
“The soldiers act with impunity. No one dares to question them,” said one resident.
On June 23, 2025, villagers staged a peaceful protest, visiting the Edo State Government House, the State House of Assembly, and eventually the Benin Royal Palace, where palace chiefs received them and promised to pass their concerns to the monarch.
Army’s Response
In response, the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade Headquarters in Benin City issued a formal warning, demanding that residents of Iyanomo and nearby Oghede community vacate what it describes as legally acquired military land.
A statement released from Abuja by the Army’s public relations office said the land at Ekehuan was officially acquired in 1966, with a Certificate of Occupancy granted in 1994. The Army accused local leaders, including Enogie Osazebare Aghahowa, of encouraging illegal encroachment and selling military land to private developers.
The Army also noted that some buildings were located dangerously close to areas used for live ammunition training, warning that continued occupation could lead to demolitions and full enforcement of military property rights.
Stalemate Over Land Ownership
While the Iyanomo communitybcalls the Army’s actions oppressive and unlawful, the military maintains it is acting within its legal rights and has rejected accusations of misconduct.
The conflict highlights the complex and often tense interactions between civilian communities and military authorities in land-related matters in Nigeria.
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Faith Kegh
Content & Editorial Manager - Leads the creation, review, and publication of high-quality news and media content. She ensures that all editorial work reflects the organization’s standards of accuracy, professionalism, and relevance, while also engaging and informing the audience.
As the key driver of TokinPoint Media LTD's editorial voice, the manager oversees content planning, assigns tasks to writers or editors, enforces deadlines, and ensures consistency across all platforms. She also plays a strategic role in aligning content with audience interests and search engine optimization (SEO) best practices.