NGO, Forum Of Delta State Stakeholders, demand State Gov’s immediate intervention in land disputes 

Worried by incessant clashes among some communities over land disputes in Aniocha South local government area of Delta State, the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has been implored to step into the matter before the violence escalates.

Making the plea in a press statement issued in Lagos today (25 December 2024), the Forum of Delta State Stakeholders (FODESS) stressed the need for Governor Oborevwori to take special interest in the land disputes so that the scenario witnessed in March this year during Okuoma-Okoloba land crisis in Ughelli South local government area of the State does not repeat itself.

FODESS Coordinator Tony Masha who signed the statement said that there had been frequent clashes over land disputes among Isheagu, Ewulu, Uku-Oba, Umute, ,Abah, etc, communities in Aniocha South local government area of Delta State, leading in some instances to outbreaks of violence.

The Group added that the said communities live along Asaba-Warri expressway about 150 to 200 kilometers from Ogwashi-Uku, the local government headquarters of Aniocha South.

It stated that the latest clashes in the area occurred on Monday, 9 December 2024 when a retired Naval officer, Chief Austin Modebe had, on the advice of the Surveyor-General of the State, went to survey Isheagu part of the land as had been done by the other communities.

“But the retired Naval personnel and those who accompanied him to carry out the land survey were attacked by some youths suspected to be from UIku-Oba who vandalized his Pontaic G6 GT vehicle while they inflicted him and others with matched wounds in all parts of his body in the presence of some persons in police uniforms whose identities could not be established.

“As we write, Chief Modebe who was rushed to Federal Medical Centre, Asaba has been discharged after lying critically ill for about two weeks but still goes to receive treatment at that hospital,” the statement added.
FODESS commended the combined detachment of security operatives that brought the situation under control on 9 December and urged them to boost security in the area this festive period to prevent unforeseen attacks.

It also praised the police authorities that have commenced investigation into the crisis to identify those who attacked the ex-Naval officer so that they could be brought to book in order to check the culture of impunity among the youths in the area.
The Group emphasized the need for the State Government to identify traditional boundaries among communities in the area and demarcate same so that the idea of seeing the expressway constructed few years ago as boundaries could stop because that mindset among the youths seemed to be the major source of land disputes among these communities.

“The boundary demarcation would also enable the State Government to go into the archives to determine the boundary between Aniocha South local government area and Ndokwa-East local government area so that the land dispute between Isheagu, the last town in Aniocha South local government area and Ossisa in Ndokwa-East would also be resolved.
“Essentially, the Government should resolve these land disputes so that these communities can live in peace as their forefathers did,” FODESS emphasized.