The forest hosting the Benin Monarch’s Shrine
Kingsley Abavo, Managing Editor, Benin
On Tuesday 21, April, 2026, some loggers who were said to be carrying out illegal operations were apprehended in Iyowa Village, Ovia-North-East local grovernment council area of Edo State.
Following a covert surveillance, a group of youths mobilised by the Okaighele (Youths Head) of the Village, ambassador Etionsa Ighodaro apprehended the loggers while in action.
They illegally invaded a reserved forest housing the ancestral ‘Ovia shrine’ of the Benin Monarch, HRM Oba Ewuare II on Monday, 20 April, 2026 and fell several timber trees.
On Tuesday, they again returned to continue work when they were apprehended.
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Talking to our reporter, the Okaighele, ambassador Etionsa Ighodaro narrated the background story of what could have led to the said sacrilegious invasion of the Monarch’s forest and shrine.
There has been a series of crises in the community since 2014 allegedly masterminded by one Reuben Omoiyekemwen Owie when he and collaborators brought in thugs attempting to eliminate persons perceived to be opposition members, but failed.
After the death of Pa. G.A. Obaze JP, he triggered another crisis; he has been disturbing the community, with a series of police arrest, harassment and intimidation and instituting court cases of various dimensions against those who dare confront him; from court to court, from Benin to Abuja, Ighodaro laments.
But the community for a while has been enjoying a level of peace since the high court in Okada ruled that Etionsa Ighodaro should remain the substantive Okaighele of Iyowa, while Henry Imadiyi the Oyunkpo of Iyowa, remain the Chief Priest, and Pa. S. A. Igbinawahia should be the acting Head of administration including one Festus Igbinawahia as a member.
Unfortunately, Festus Igbinawahia in connivance with some elements have chosen to resurrect the fresh crisis and disturbance in Iyowa, Okaighele Ighodaro alleged.
He added; Festus Igbinawahia and collaborators masterminded the invasion and desecration of the sacred forest.
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The community holds and maintains the shrine in trust for the Oba. From ancient days, nobody was permitted to enter the forest anyhow.
We were surprised yesterday (Monday, 20 April, 2026) that a group of people led by Reuben Omoiyekemwen Owie entered the Oba forest with a motor saw machine to fell timber trees which they cut into logs and hauled to the sawmill.
Again today, Tuesday, 21 April, they returned to continue the felling of the timbers remaining, he said.
He, Ighodaro mobilised the youths who apprehended them with all their work machines including the haulage truck which have been impounded.
The suspects along with their work machines have been taken to the Palace of the Oba by the Chief Priest, Henry Imadiyi to report the incident, the Okaighele disclosed.
These people did not only illegally enter the Oba Ewuare II forest, but unauthorized, they have embarked on the felling of the timber trees in there thus defiling the ancient Ovia shrine of the Monarch, he continued.
In an interview; the motor saw operator, who identified himself as Usman Momoh told our reporter that he was directed by his employer in Benin, to meet a native of Iyowa (name not given) who took him and other workers into the forest to do the felling of the timber trees. But he denied knowing anything about the arrangement and those behind it.
Momoh further said before they were apprehended, they had already harvested eight stumps of timber trees and cut into 20 pieces of logs, out of which, some have been hauled to the sawmill.
He gave the name of the timber trees as corkwood (white wood)
Also, the haulage truck driver, identified himself as Ademola Adebiyi.
He disclosed, that his boss whose name he said is Oduwa and lives in Benin, is the contractor who instructed him to come to Iyowa for haulage of the logs to the sawmill.
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Adding, that some of the logs have been taken to a sawmill at Ogueka Village, within the Iyowa locality.
Like the motor saw operator, the haulage truck driver also denied not knowing anything about the logging contract as he was only a worker, acting on the instructions of his employer.
His employer who he simply identified as Oduwa, is the owner of the haulage truck which he said was hired by those behind the operation, to take the logs to the sawmill.
Additional reliable information, indicates that the invasion of the forest and harvesting of the timber trees have the backing of some natives of Iyowa whose true identity was not revealed to our reporter.
Our sources further alleged, that the masterminds of the operation, are making secret move to sell off parts of the forest though, not confirmed.
However, as at the time of filing this story for publication on Thursday, efforts to reach the persons alleged were not successful.
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