Delta community protests invasion by land-grabbers,

By Christopher Oji

Youths of Ubulu clan, at the weekend, protested the invasion of their land by a neighbouring community, Ogwashi-Uku, in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Over 100 youths of Ubulu staged a peaceful protest in front of Government House, Asaba, Delta State, calling on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to quickly intervene in the activities Ogwashi-Uku people and their accomplices in Ubulu-Okiti and Aniagbala-Ubulu-Uku “as their actions amount to promotion of native war, land-grabbing, unlawful trespass and threat to life.”

Meanwhile, the regime of forceful and illegal acquisition of other communities’ lands, reportedly by Ogwashi-Uku, would soon come to an end as Governor Oborevwori is awaiting the reports of the commission of inquiry into land disputes involving Ogwashi-Uku

Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Mr. Kingsley Emu, who received the peaceful protesters on behalf of the governor, said, “We have listened to your complaint. The governor, in his wisdom, through the State Security Council, had actually set up a commission of inquiry to look into most of those allegations that have been brewing and fights that have been all over, and everything pointing towards Ogwashi-Uku community.

“The security council invited the traditional ruler, thereafter, and he was asked to stay away from all of these until the commission completes its assignment. Luckily, they are almost completing the assignment. In January 2025, by the special grace of God, they would have been through and government would do the normal thing of going through the recommendations, because it is a commission of inquiry.”

Speaking further, the SSG said the governor received numerous petitions from various communities over land-grabbing and “the announcement was that any community that was affected, afflicted or concerned should come up with memorandum and state its case and position.

“So this legitimacy claim would be sorted out by the panel of inquiry, headed by a serving judge in the state. The panel is also made up of very reputable and responsible people who do not have any personal interest and will never have. They are not people who can be bought over.”

Earlier, the protesting youths, who displayed placards condemning the expansionist tendency of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, had read out a letter addressed to Governor Oborevwori. They were led by the president of Ubulu-Okiti youths, Mr. Nwabuebo (a.k.a. Omokaro).

The letter, copies of which were given to journalists, stated that, “Some citizens of Ubulu-Okiti community, including chiefs and vigilante members, were arrested and are currently in detention by the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 5, at the behest of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, since December 21, 2024.”

The letter, which was written by the communities’ lawyers, Breakthrough Legal Consults, signed by C.I. Afamefune-Agbakor, Esq, also said, “the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 5, Police Headquarters, who is obviously compromised by Ogwashi-Uku people, has refused them bail despite the allegation against them being bail-able.

“We wish to state that the AIG Zone 5 is part of the reason why the land-grabbing escapades of Ogwashi-Uku people has subsisted unabated, as he is holding his brief, all through the interview he never allowed our community representatives to speak, whereas the Ogwashi-Uku people and their accomplices were not present or represented as the AIG was the one doing their case and at the same time conducting investigation in the same case.”

Reacting to these claims, the SSG said, “We note very strongly the use of police from Zone 5 to torment or harass you as you have alleged.” He assured the youths that the governor would look into it.

The SSG, while appreciating the peaceful approach of the Ubulu youths in their protest, admonished them to keep being peaceful, as violence would not help matters.

On behalf of the state government, the SSG said that within the next two months at the maximum the panel of inquiry’s report would have been submitted and action taken by the government as the governor did not take for granted anything to do with the security of the state.

In their letter to Governor Oborevwori appealing for his urgent intervention, the youths had emphasized: “This appeal is of extreme urgency, owing to the continuity and consistency of the land-grabbers’ activities, which have occurred for almost a year now, unabatedly and despite our community’s efforts to stop them.”

They told the governor that their community was on the verge of extinction “as the arable land where our community had enjoyed peaceful farming activities for over a century is being violently annexed by these violent land-grabbers.”

The Ogwashi-Uku community has been in the news in recent times over their moves to take over lands that are within the territories of Ubulu-Uku and Ubulu-Okiti with a forged document purporting to be a court judgement ceding to them and Ashi Industries Limited over 600 hectares of lands that belong to Ubulu clan, which in any case are located far from Ogwashi-Uku territory.

In spite of Delta State government’s order a few weeks ago restraining Ogwashi-Uku people and their agents from further encroachment on the lands until the commission of inquiry submits its report, they have continued to use thugs and policemen from Zone 5 Police Headquarters to breach the state government’s order.

In the process, Ogwashi -Uku people have destroyed economic trees, crops and other properties. About 6,000 palm trees, 100 beehives, CCTV cameras, inverters all belonging to a former banker, Mr. Luke Ejiofor, were destroyed at Aniagbala-Ubulu-Uku. The same thing happened to farmlands of Ubulu-Okiti community, where bulldozers were used to destroy farmlands and crops.