The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has sacked Ovbokhan Igbinovia, the traditional Chief Priest of Okhuoromi Community in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo.
Oba Ewuare stripped Igbinovia’s title of Ohen(Chief Priest), over alleged land grabbing, extortion, and unauthorized demolition of private properties.
The priest of the community was sacked by the monarch on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
The allegations leveled against the priest were a clear violation of Benin customs and tradition.
The Oba’s order was conveyed by Chief Osaro Idah, the Obazelu of Benin, to the elders of Okhuoromi, led by its Odionwere (village head), Pa. Oghagbon Edosomwan.
He, however, mandated the village head to administer the area on his behalf.
Idah, who was joined by other palace chiefs such as Isaac Oyeoba (Oyeoba of Benin) and Chief Uyi Okungbowa (Ogua of Benin), while addressing Okhuoromi elders and victims of the land grabbing and those whose property was demolished, said anyone who contravenes the verdict would incur the wrath of the law and ancestors.
The Oba, who opined that the Benin throne does not support acts of lawlessness and criminality under any guise, distanced the palace from the alleged sacrilege.
He, however, urged the people of the community to eschew violence.
He assured the victims that justice would be served in due course.
The monarch disclosed that palace chiefs have been assigned to further investigate and assess the level of damages in the community, just as he advised the victims to channel their complaints with pictorial and video evidence to the appropriate authorities.
