Delta Government Appeals For Calm Over Ibusa–Ogwashi-Uku Land Dispute
Protest at Government House
THE Delta State Government has called for calm following renewed tensions between the Ibusa and Ogwashi-Uku communities over a protracted land dispute.
Members of the Ibusa community staged a peaceful protest at Government House, Asaba, on Monday, alleging encroachment on their land by neighbouring Ogwashi-Uku. The dispute involves boundary issues between Ibusa in Oshimili North Local Government Area and Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Ogwashi-Uku keep off from Ibusa land, we have Supreme Court verdict on the land” and “Implement Supreme Court judgment, Ibusa is a peaceful community,” the protesters urged the state government to enforce what they described as subsisting court judgments.
Government Assures Due Process
Addressing the demonstrators on behalf of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Asaba, Prince Johnson Erijo, commended the protesters for their peaceful conduct and assured them that the matter was already receiving government attention.
“As a government, there are established procedures for handling matters of this nature, and I want to assure you that we are already acting on this communication,” Erijo said, noting that the state had received correspondence on the dispute before the protest.
He stressed that government’s priority was to prevent any breakdown of law and order and to ensure a fair and just resolution.
“At the end of the process, the government will come out with a decision that will be fair, justifiable, and in the overall interest of peace and stability,” he added.
Erijo appealed to both communities to remain law-abiding and avoid actions that could escalate tensions.
Community Cites Supreme Court Judgment
Speaking on behalf of the Ibusa community, Barrister Peter Lotobi described the matter as a long-standing boundary dispute that had been conclusively settled by competent courts.
According to him, the High Court initially ruled on the boundary issue, and the judgment was affirmed by the Court of Appeal in 1982. He said the matter was later taken to the Supreme Court in Appeal No. SC.32/1985, which upheld the concurrent decisions of the lower courts and dismissed the appeal.
“We are a peaceful and law-abiding community. We have exercised restraint and counseled our youths to remain calm,” Lotobi said, adding that the protest was aimed at drawing the government’s attention to the need to enforce the judgments.
He urged the state government to intervene decisively to ensure justice and maintain lasting peace between the neighbouring communities.
