Warri North, Illaje boss to defuse tension over Aja-Ebighan land dispute

By Oluwaseun Popoola

Chairman of Warri North Local Government, Festus Ashima, and his counterpart from Illaje Local Government of Ondo State, Orekpenaye Maurice, yesterday, visited the disputed land and boundary area in Aja-Ebighan community, in Warri North LGA, following rising tension over alleged encroachment involving the Illaje local government area in Ondo State.

Ashima, who visited the Itsekiri community to douse tension and reassure his people, was reportedly confronted by Ondo State internal security personnel and members of the Amotekun Corps in the disputed area.

The intervention of the two council chairmen helped to prevent a potentially violent confrontation, as the situation, which had raised fears of casualties and destruction of property, was brought under control through a peaceful address to the affected communities.

Addressing his Itsekiri people, Ashima urged them to remain calm and law-abiding, stressing that issues bordering on land disputes and boundary adjustment are constitutional matters that cannot be resolved through mere negotiations between individuals or local authorities.

He further maintained that he was aware that the disputed territory is already before the Supreme Court, insisting that all parties should refrain from taking actions capable of prejudicing the judicial process and should await the court’s decision.

On his part, the Chairman of Illaje Local Government Area, Orekpenaye Maurice, appealed to his people to remain peaceful and law-abiding, stressing that nobody should take the law into his or her hands when the government and the courts are already handling the matter.

The two chairmen also said that both the governors of Delta and Ondo states are already aware of the crisis surrounding the disputed area, stressing that the matter would be handled by both governors at their level for further discussion and appropriate resolution.

The two council chairmen’s intervention is expected to further calm tempers in the affected communities and prevent the land dispute from escalating into a wider crisis between the people of Warri North and Illaje.