Two years earlier, in 2015, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) had expressed dismay by the activities of most big multinational companies in the country over the ugly trend of forcefully denying their host communities the use of their lands without any commensurate compensation. Testimonies of field visits to communities impacted by the activities of Okomu Oil Palm Plc in Edo State noted with fear that if the trend by multinational companies involved in land grabbing was not addressed, more communities in Edo may face eviction with rife human rights violations. Rita Uwaka, project officer of ERA in her research findings, told journalists that it was noted that Okomu Oil Palm firm grabbed more land across forest reserves for oil palm business . Okomu Oil Palm Plc was a member of the global SOCFIN Group. Community-based livelihoods, comprising mainly farming and fishing, had been truncated with over 20 communities risking eviction and human rights abuses. According to her, ERA noted : "There is increasing threat to existing food security system as hunger prevails, sicknesses and diseases arising from plantation chemicals and poor sanitation are having differentiated impact on women and children. No documented evidence of an Environmental Impact Assessment in sight. Entry and exit of community people from their territories is at the mercy of the plantation company”. She said: "Community people's capacities need to be improved upon on their rights as many of them have been brainwashed to believing that they have no right to challenge any land deal with Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc and that their coming is a development opportunity." Besides, ERA alleged that over 11,000 hectares of forested land as well as communal farmlands located within Owan and Ehor Forest Reserves in Ovia North-East Local Council of Edo State had been grabbed by the company, Okomu Oil Palm Plc, to further its industrial oil palm plantation expansion project in Nigeria. (6).

1. The company bulldozes Owan Forest Reserve and neighbouring Community farmlands for large scale Oil Palm Plantation business.

2. Over 60,000 people across 30 communities in 3 Local Government Areas of Edo State risk grave impacts due to Deforestation and Land grabbing for Industrial Oil Palm Plantations by Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC.

3. Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC is Belgian and a member of the global SOCFIN Group.

4. Irhue Clan and bordering communities are in danger of losing their age-old heritage.

5. Divide and Rule tactics instigated by Company breeds conflict, rift and insecurity in communities.

6. Apprehension brews for fear of project`s threat to existing local food systems.

7. There is no documented evidence of an inclusive Environmental Impact Assessment in sight.

8. Communities lack basic infrastructural presence like Electricity, portable pipe borne water, health care delivery system etc...

9. Conversion of Forest to plantation poses differentiated impacts on women and

vulnerable groups.