The Delta government has called for calm following a land dispute between landowners and estate developers in Ugbolu, Oshimili North LGA.

The director of protocol, Sunday Onoriode, made the appeal on Monday while addressing protesters at the Government House, Asaba.

Mr Onoriode assured the aggrieved parties of the government’s swift intervention to resolve the dispute. He commended the protesters for their peaceful conduct, noting that they adopted the appropriate channel to air their grievances.

“I sincerely thank you for bringing your complaints to Government House, Asaba. I am pleased that you did not take the law into your own hands, and I urge you to remain peaceful,” he said.

He further assured them that the governor, whom he described as a firm advocate of the rule of law, would give the matter due attention and ensure justice.

“I have heard all you have said. As you know, our governor is a law-abiding citizen, and I can assure you that he will look into this matter and ensure that justice is served,” he added.

The group’s leader, Ofili Okweose, said the protesters were at Government House to express grievances over the alleged wrongful acquisition of their land and the unlawful demolition of their properties.

Mr Okweose said the affected land, spanning hundreds of hectares and owned by thousands of individuals—mostly civil servants—had been peacefully occupied for over two decades without dispute until recently.

“Our concern is that we acquired land in the Ugbolu-Amachai quarters and have used it for years without hindrance. Nobody challenged us, and there was no contention whatsoever.

“Just a few weeks ago, someone brought in bulldozers, cleared the entire area and carved it into a layout,” he said.

He alleged that investigations suggested that some officials in the Ministry of Lands had been engaging with members of the Ugbolu community, creating the impression that the land was under government acquisition.

“But we know that the government does not acquire land to hand over to estate developers for private business. If that happens, the court will nullify it. That is far from a legitimate government acquisition,” he said.

Mr Okweose further alleged collusion among some individuals, community members and estate developers to unlawfully sell the land under the guise of a state-backed project.

“The summary of what is happening is that some unscrupulous senior civil servants are using the name of the state, in collaboration with some elements in Ugbolu and estate developers, to sell our land,” he alleged.

He also questioned the project’s legitimacy, citing the absence of official markings or documentation typically required for government projects.

Mr Okweose condemned the manner in which the demolition was allegedly carried out, describing it as violent and unlawful.

He added that the matter had been reported to the police command in Delta but claimed no action had been taken, prompting the peaceful protest. 

(NAN)