By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
The Uhunmwoke Orhume Ewuare Community in Ikpoba-okha local government Area of Edo State, has send a Save-Our-Soul message to Governor Godwin Obaseki and the ,Oba of Benin, over an aquisition of their land by Christ Embassy Church.
The Community people who trooped out in their thousands to protest over the alleged acquisition,said they have decided to cry out to governor Obaseki and the Oba of Benin to rescue them.
According to them, Christ Embassy Church, storm the community with armed boys, Soldiers and Police to beat them while working on their land.
According to them, the said parcels of land is reserved for the building of the Community School, Health Centre, Police Station and the the village market.
Odionwele of the Community, Pa Ogieva Edonmwonyi, said, “the plots of land is what the Community kept for the building of the Community School, Primary and Secondary, Health Centre, Police Station and the village market.
“We are surprised that Christ Embassy Church came and said they bought the land from Obe Community.The land belongs to us not Obe.
” Christ Embassy Church pastor Mike came with Soldiers, Police and some thugs to beat up our people and drove them away from home, claiming they own the land.
” We are appealing to the governor and Omo -n- Oba Ewuare 11 to please come to our aid.
Also speaking, the second in command, Pa Thomas Egharevba Oseghale, said ” our fore fathers reserved this land for community use. We did not sell any part of it to Christ Embassy Church.It is our land.”
The youth leader , (Okaghele), of the Community, Omoregbe Daniel, said, “the issue came up some years ago during the reign of Oba Erediawa, when Obe community and Uhunmwoke Orhume Eware where summoned to palace over the land.Omo N Oba Erediawa querried Obe community why they should give the land that does not belong to them to Christ Embassy Church.He warned them to stay clear from the Land.
“We don’t have boundary with Obe ,we have boundary with Ohohobi community. One Pastor Mike of Christ Embassy Church came few days ago with Soldiers, Police and thugs while we were working on the land, beat everyone insight up and up till now, we can’t go to our houses again, because they come every time to harrass us in the community.
” Our community did not sell any land to Christ Embassy Church, the land belongs to our community. Christ Embassy Church alleged C of O is a complete lie .
Reacting, Camp Manager, Believers Love World Camp Ground,aka, Christ Embassy Church, 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.