Edo community protest alleged land grabbing by Christ Embassy in Benin

… Say land has become kidnappers’ den

There was almost a breakdown of law and order at the weekend in Benin City, Edo State as youths from
Uhunmwoke Orhuma Ewuare village, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State protested an alleged land grabbing by Believers Love World, AKA, Christ Embassy,and the presiding pastor, Chris Oyakhilome.

The angry youths in their hundreds, who blocked the ever-busy Sapele Road, Benin City, carried placards with different inscriptions like: “Edo Commissioner of police has been bribed by Christ Embassy”, “Pastor Henry and Pastor Tom are using police commissioner to grab our land”, “CP leave our land alone” among others, accused the founder of the Believers’ Love World(Chris Oyakhilome) of grabbing their lands.

Speaking, the Odionwere(Elder) of the community Pa Ogieva Edonmwenyi, accused the Christ Embassy Pastor of grabbing the land of the village and said the village has no place to farm or build houses again.

He said they have written to him, gone to his church, but till today they have not seen him, so their youths had no option, but to go in and take over their property

“This man, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has taken over our land, we have written to him, gone to his church and till today we have not seen him, so our youths had no option, but to go in, and take over the property
,
“Our women have no place to farm

and that is why they are protesting. He brought police to harass us in our community. We have 500×500 Oba land there, including our community shrines. Go there, the place has become kidnappers den, there are human skulls killed by kidnappers there, We are pleading to the governor to come and save us.”

Also speaking Mr. Daniel Omoregbee, the youth leader, said,
“We woke up this morning to see about twenty Hilux Vans filled with policemen in our community and they have been harassing us since morning. We are begging the Oba of Benin, Euware ll, and the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to come and help us.”
Reacting, the Camp Manager, Believers Love World Camp Ground, Benin City, Mr. Clement Aikpokpo, said the church bought the land from Obe Community(a neighboring community) in 2006 and obtained a Certificate of Occupancy(C of O)in 2010.
“We bought this land 2006 (eighteenth year’s ago) from Obe community and when we started fencing, some communities, about three of them came out and said they own part of the land when they came out, they were all settled, we even went to the late Oba of Benin, Oba Erediawa, who settled it for us. We have fenced it around since 2006 when we bought the land, the community has not deemed it fit to come and say, the land belongs to them. Why now.” He said.