The Edo State Government on Friday said it had begun issuing allocation letters to eligible property owners for the return of 2,950 plots at Oke-Oroma Community, Benin.
This brings an end to the long-drawn land dispute between former governor, Godwin Obaseki’s administration and 1,550 victims of demolished structures in the community.
Speaking with journalists in Benin, the state Commissioner for Land and Housing, Yakubu Musa, said the hope of the victims of the Oke-Oroma Community demolition has been restored.
The victims affected by the demolition of September 21, 2022, all assembled at the ministry, where their relevant documents were verified before the issuance of allocation letters to them.
Musa said that following Governor Monday Okpebholo’s approval for the return of the land to the rightful owners, the ministry commenced a one-week exercise to authenticate the true owners of properties in the community.
Some of the victims of the demolition exercise, including Adebayo Ogenelkhemeh, Onose Onyegbulem, and Efe Ewemade, after receiving their allocation letters, described Okpebholo as the restorer of lost hope, appreciating him for keeping the promises he made during his campaign to the area.
The PUNCH had reported that the reclamation of land in Benin had led to the demolition of over 100 buildings in Irhirihi, Arougba, Obazagbon, and Ogheghe communities.
The demolition at that time resulted in a war of words between the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State.
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