The Edo State Police Command has deployed a special security team to Iyanomo Community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area to restore peace and prevent further violence following a renewed leadership crisis over the community’s traditional succession.
The dispute over who should assume the position of Odionwere, the community’s traditional head, reportedly began on January 13, 2026, and has resulted in the destruction of property worth millions of naira, forcing many residents to flee for fear of further attacks.
As part of efforts to restore law and order, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Eno Ikoedem, led the deployed security personnel on a show-of-force operation across the community to reassure residents and deter further violence.
Speaking to journalists during the operation, Ikoedem said the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, ordered the deployment following repeated reports of violent attacks in the community.
She assured residents that the security personnel would remain in Iyanomo until peace is fully restored, while investigations into the violence continue.
“We are here in Iyanomo Community to ensure peace, and the security personnel will remain here until normalcy is restored. The team is complementing the investigation already underway to identify those responsible for the violence and ensure they are brought to justice,” she said.
“This is not a temporary show of force but a deliberate effort to restore lasting peace. We urge residents who fled the community because of the crisis to return, as security has been strengthened to protect lives and property.”
Speaking on the root of the crisis, Pa Robinson Izekor, who described himself as the second-in-command to the late Odionwere, said the disagreement stemmed from the succession process following the traditional ruler’s death.
According to him, one Felix Ediowe had declined to assume the position of Odionwere in 2021, prompting the community to appoint the late Wilfred Odegie.
Izekor claimed that following Odegie’s death, he became next in line to assume the position, but Ediowe later expressed interest in the office, leading to disagreements that eventually escalated into violence.
Another resident, Elder Fred Omo-Edigie, alleged that the leadership dispute was worsened by acts of violence carried out by suspected cultists.
He accused Felix Ediowe and Osawonyi Ikorogie of being behind the unrest and further alleged that Ikorogie was involved in cult-related activities. These allegations have not been independently verified by the police, and no court has found the individuals guilty of the claims.
Omo-Edigie, however, commended the Edo State Police Command for its intervention, stating that the arrest of a suspect on June 25, 2026, and the recovery of items reportedly linked to the investigation had helped improve security in the community.
He also expressed appreciation to the Commissioner of Police, the Edo State Government and the Oba of Benin for their efforts to restore peace, while urging authorities to sustain the intervention and ensure justice is served in accordance with the law.
The police have reiterated their commitment to maintaining security in the community and called on residents to cooperate with investigators by providing useful information that could aid ongoing investigations.
