By Isaac Olamikan
Uhunmwoke Orhume Ewuare Community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State has sent a Save-Our-Soul(SOS) message to Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Oba of Benin, over acquisition of their land by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s Christ Embassy Church.
People of the community 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 for the Pentecostal church and its General Overseer.
According to them, Christ Embassy Church, stormed the community with armed boys, soldiers and police recently to beat them while working on their land.
According to the protesters, the said parcel of land is reserved for the building of the Community School, Health Centre, Police Station and the village market.
Odionwere of the Community, Pa Ogieva Edomwonyi, said, “the plots of land is what the community kept for the building of the Community primary and secondary school, Health Centre, Police Station and the village market.
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“We are surprised that Christ Embassy Church came and said they bought the land from Obe Community. The land belongs to us, not Obe community.
“Christ Embassy Church Pastor Mike came with soldiers, police and some thugs to beat up our people and drove them away from their homes, claiming they own the land.
“We are appealing to Governor Godwin Obaseki and His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare 11 to please come to our aid.
Also speaking, the second in command, Pa Thomas Egharevba Oseghale, said: “our forefathers 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 Ewuare were summoned to the palace over the land. Omo N Oba Erediawa queried 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 community, we only have boundary with Oghoghobi community. One Pastor Mike of Christ Embassy Church came a few days ago with soldiers, police and thugs while we were working on the land, beat up everyone in sight and up till now, we can’t go to our houses again, because they come every time to harass us in the community.
“Our community did not sell any land to Christ Embassy Church, the land belongs to our community. Christ Embassy Church claims over an alleged C of O is a complete lie.
