When in 1896 the people of Ekpoma did not want another Onojie after the death of the reigning Onojie, Ovonramwen sent some of his chiefs to appease the people for peace to reign.
The Benin massacre of the British took place in January 1897. February 1897 marks invasion of Benin and subsequent deportation of the Oba to Calabar where he passed on in January 1914.
After Ovonramwan surrendered to the British after six months in the bush, when he appeared before the British officers, he was given a three days adjournment.
But on the appointed time, he did not appear based on wrong advice from some of his chiefs. A search party was sent to look for him when he was brought before the panel he was subsequently banished from the kingdom for life.