Land war in Delta

How Ogbeozoma community’s wealth became curse of bullets and bulldozers

From Joe Obukata Ogbodu, Warri

What was supposed to be a lifetime reward for community service has transformed into a living nightmare for Mr Victor Okolie. Popularly known in his hometown of Okpanam as ‘Fuji,’ the local contractor was gifted a tract of land by the leadership of the Ogbeozoma community in the Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.

It was a gesture of gratitude for infrastructure and survey jobs well done. But today, Okolie can barely walk. He limps on one leg – the grim physical reminder of a brutal, blood-soaked confrontation on February 9, 2026.

Unknown to Okolie, his hard-earned reward was sitting directly on a geopolitical fault line of a fierce, escalating land war.  What began as a standard property boundary disagreement has degenerated into a terrifying campaign of alleged state-backed terror, midnight arrests, and law enforcement overreach that has left an entire community living in fear.

For the indigenous people of Ogbeozoma, the crisis is no longer a legal debate over deeds and titles. It has evolved into a human rights emergency. Community members alleged that powerful private developers are using armed police officers as a personal militia to bypass the judiciary, seize ancestral lands and crush any opposition.

At a press conference in Asaba, the capital of the state, community leaders pointed fingers directly at the management of an estate. They accused the estate developers of collaborating with security forces to wage a war of attrition against legitimate landowners.

Recounting his near-death experience, Okolie explained that his trouble began when reports filtered into the community that portions of a five-acre parcel allocated to him were being aggressively fenced off by outsiders.

“The land belongs to me. Plots had already been sub-allocated, and some buyers had already erected structures,” Okolie stated.

When community representatives and contractors rushed to the site to investigate, they were met with a scene of total devastation. Fences had been pulled down, and existing buildings lay in ruins. Standing guard over the destruction was a contingent of armed security personnel. The security forces were allegedly deployed from the Delta State Police Command.

“The security presence was overwhelming,” Okolie recalled. “It looked more like a military operation than a civil matter.”

When Okolie attempted to protest the demolition and demand answers, the situation turned violent. “I was asking them to stop because the land belonged to me. They ordered that I should be shot, and that was how I sustained this injury,” he alleged, pointing to his damaged leg. The shooting has effectively crippled his ability to work, leaving a family’s breadwinner grounded.

Okolie was not the only casualty of the ongoing feud. Mr. Chinedu Ofuani, the Chairman of the Ogbeozoma Community Land Allocation Committee (OCLAC), described it as a systematic campaign aimed at breaking the spirit of the locals.

Ofuani revealed that he was personally targeted – alleging he was intercepted, blindfolded, physically assaulted and thrown into detention without cause. According to him, the playbook involves arresting community leaders on trumped-up charges, only for the cases to be quietly dropped after weeks of psychological and physical trauma.

“This is no longer just about land ownership,” Ofuani asserted. “It has become an issue of intimidation, human rights violations and abuse of power. Private interests are using law enforcement agencies to harass community leaders and residents defending their ancestral property.”

The residents of Ogbeozoma are asking a fundamental question: Why are bulldozers rolling without valid court orders? They lament that petitions to law enforcement have hit a brick wall of silence.

Frustrated by institutional failure, the community is now taking its case to the highest offices in the land. They have issued an urgent appeal to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Police Service Commission (PSC), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) as well as to the Delta State Government, saying, if there is a dispute over land, the courts should decide. Ofuani noted emphatically: “The police should not be seen taking sides in a civil matter.”

Efforts to get a response from the accused developer proved futile. Repeated phone calls to the chief executive officer of the estate went unanswered. Text messages seeking clarification on the allegations were also ignored, at the time of publication.

Similarly, the Delta State Police Command has kept its cards close to its chest. Bright Edafe, the command’s public relations officer, did not respond to WhatsApp inquiries regarding the allegations of police brutality and involvement in the land demolition exercise.

For now, the people of Ogbeozoma wait in uneasy silence, wondering when the next roar of a bulldozer or the crack of a gunshot will echo through their ancestral home.

In May, during a high-level meeting with senior officers of the command to address concerns relating to the conduct, discipline, and professionalism of personnel,  the Delta State Commissioner of Police,  Yemi Oyeniyi, had stressed the need for strict compliance with all rules and regulations of the Nigeria Police Force, as well as proper adherence to standard operating procedures. He made it clear that the police management will not accept any excuse from officers who fail to do the right thing.

The CP expressed concerns over cases of incivility by some officers, reminding all personnel that policing is service to the people. He directed officers to be polite, professional and respectful in their dealings with members of the public at all times.

The CP,  according to a statement dated May 3, 2026, by Edafe,  a superintendent of police, also charged senior officers to take responsibility for the actions of their subordinates by properly supervising, guiding and correcting them, where necessary. “They were encouraged to motivate their men, build their morale and ensure that they project a positive image of the Force”.

Earlier in April, the police boss had expressed concerns over the activities of land grabbers in the state. He maintained that the command wished to state clearly that the police would not get involved in land disputes or any civil matters. However, it is the constitutional responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure protection of life and property, maintenance of law and order, among other duties, hence the command will not tolerate any individual, or group that employed violence in their activities.

The command, therefore, advised aggrieved parties to seek redress in court and not resort to self-help.

“I want to thank all stakeholders for their support so far and call on all residents of Delta State to continue to partner with the command, provide credible information, as we jointly safeguard our communities and build a safer, more secure environment for all”, a statement issued by Edafe read.