Inside Edo
Iyaloja: Edo North market women protest against alleged extortion by newly appointed Iyeki
Written By: Alaba Lambert
18 Oct 2025 05:30 AM
Afuze, Edo – Tensions have escalated in Afuze, Edo North, as market women voiced their frustration over alleged extortion by the newly appointed Iyeki, a traditional market leader installed by Pastor Josephine Ibhaguezejele, who was recently named Edo market leader by Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, daughter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The controversy, highlighted in a viral video shared by Nosakhare Stefan Egbọn on X (formerly Twitter), has reignited debates over revenue collection practices and traditional leadership roles in Edo State.
The video, which has garnered significant attention, features market women tearfully recounting her ordeal. Holding several tickets, a woman explains that she was barred from selling her goods at the market this year due to the new revenue collection system.
The woman’s story is part of a broader narrative of market women in Afuze facing what they describe as “terror” from thugs allegedly deployed by the Iyeki to enforce revenue collection.
“When we from the South spoke against it, some people were silent,” Egbọn noted in his post, alluding to the initial resistance in Edo South against Ibhaguezejele’s appointment, which was met with disapproval from the Oba of Benin, who declared the title of Iyaloja alien to Benin culture.
The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, had previously stated that each market in Benin is traditionally led by an Iyeki, a role deeply connected to the palace and its cultural practices.
This stance contrasts sharply with the current situation in Edo North, where the newly appointed Iyeki’s actions are perceived as an overreach, exacerbating the financial strain on market women already grappling with economic challenges.
Egbọn’s post, which quotes an earlier thread detailing the Oba’s blessings to elected Iyekis but disqualifying those with factional disputes, underscores the complexity of traditional leadership and revenue collection in Edo State.
The palace had directed such Iyekis to conduct fresh elections within two weeks, adhering to age-old Edo customs.
As the situation unfolds, the market women of Edo North are calling for intervention, demanding fairness and transparency in revenue collection, as the viral video has not only amplified their voices but also reignited a broader conversation about the intersection of tradition, governance, and economic justice in Edo State.
The controversy, highlighted in a viral video shared by Nosakhare Stefan Egbọn on X (formerly Twitter), has reignited debates over revenue collection practices and traditional leadership roles in Edo State.
The video, which has garnered significant attention, features market women tearfully recounting her ordeal. Holding several tickets, a woman explains that she was barred from selling her goods at the market this year due to the new revenue collection system.
The woman’s story is part of a broader narrative of market women in Afuze facing what they describe as “terror” from thugs allegedly deployed by the Iyeki to enforce revenue collection.
“When we from the South spoke against it, some people were silent,” Egbọn noted in his post, alluding to the initial resistance in Edo South against Ibhaguezejele’s appointment, which was met with disapproval from the Oba of Benin, who declared the title of Iyaloja alien to Benin culture.
The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, had previously stated that each market in Benin is traditionally led by an Iyeki, a role deeply connected to the palace and its cultural practices.
This stance contrasts sharply with the current situation in Edo North, where the newly appointed Iyeki’s actions are perceived as an overreach, exacerbating the financial strain on market women already grappling with economic challenges.
Egbọn’s post, which quotes an earlier thread detailing the Oba’s blessings to elected Iyekis but disqualifying those with factional disputes, underscores the complexity of traditional leadership and revenue collection in Edo State.
The palace had directed such Iyekis to conduct fresh elections within two weeks, adhering to age-old Edo customs.
As the situation unfolds, the market women of Edo North are calling for intervention, demanding fairness and transparency in revenue collection, as the viral video has not only amplified their voices but also reignited a broader conversation about the intersection of tradition, governance, and economic justice in Edo State.
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