Residents of Issele-Azagba in Delta State are urging Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to step in and resolve a land dispute that has the potential to escalate into violence similar to the recent Okuama incident.
A clash over land in the Bomadi and Okuama communities resulted in the death of at least 17 military personnel at the hands of youths.
In a petition presented by their legal representative, Mr Larry Olisa, the community accused land grabbers from Okpanam of unlawfully seizing land in the Akpoma quarters, causing destruction of homes and displacement of residents.
Previous attempts to maintain peace, such as establishing boundary agreements and peace committees, have not been successful. The community is now urging the government and police to enforce the agreed boundary lines and take action against those instigating trouble before the situation worsens.
According to the petition, “The people of Issele-Azagba, known for their commitment to peace, even yielded parts of their land to the Okpanam community in 2010 in a bid to foster peace between the two sister communities.”
“Despite representatives from both communities signing the agreement, members of Okpanam have violated the terms by forcibly taking over land belonging to Issele-Azagba with the assistance of armed individuals.”
“This has resulted in loss of lives. Recently, some natives of Akpoma in Issele-Azagba were viciously attacked and injured by armed individuals from Okpanam, with some currently undergoing treatment in a hospital.”
The petition detailed further actions taken by authorities and committees to resolve the issue, with land grabbers defying authority by not adhering to agreed-upon boundary lines and even taking legal action against the state government.
The community is now facing homelessness and fear for their lives as the situation escalates. Urgent intervention by relevant authorities is necessary to prevent a potential inter-communal war.
A businessman named Chinedu Okere, who has substantial investments in real estate, is also a victim of the land grabbers who falsely accused him of criminal activities through a petition to the IGP.
The petition called on the state government to establish and uphold the existing boundary lines agreed upon by the two communities, emphasizing that the land grabbers from Okpanam have violated terms of a consent judgment rendered by Justice Philomena Obanor in 2012.
The petitioner also appealed to the IGP to ensure justice is served against the perpetrators to avert an imminent communal crisis between Issele-Azagba and Okpanam.
Last week, the Ogbeozoma community in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, filed a petition with the governor and IGP, seeking an investigation into the invasion of their land by gunmen from Issele-Azagba who allegedly inflicted harm on their residents.