Protesters block Ughelli axis of East-West road over land dispute

Vehicular movement along the Ughelli axis of the ever-busy East-West was put on hold for several hours as angry protesters from the Edjekota community of Ogor barricaded it over allegations of land grabbing by some leaders and community heads from Ogor kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The peaceful protesters, mainly aged women, men and youths, were displaying leaf branches and burning tyres on the road.

They alleged that some leaders and community heads are selling acres of land belonging to the Edjekota community without the knowledge of the rightful owners.

During the protest, the protesters alleged that some prominent persons from the kingdom sold acres of land and their ancestral ponds to unknown persons without their knowledge.

One of the Protesters, Mr Sunday Monologue, said, “We are protesting because we learned that the land we inherited from our forefathers is being taken over by some persons. On getting to the place, we saw a bulldozer working.

“We have to stop them from bulldozing the land because if we loose it, it means we no longer have inheritance for our children to inherit.” He stated.

The secretary of the Edjekota community, Mr Christopher Otobor, said, “We are advising those encroaching into our land to desist from doing so as we are not ready to sell any part or parcel of our land to anyone.

“Edjekota community is the owner of this land that is having boundary with Evwreni and Oghenerurie communities respectively and if those involved are not cautioned to stop, we would have no option than to be an autonomous community.”

For his part, the Chairman of Edjekota, Pastor Oghenemakpor Uyoh, said, “A few days ago, the community people accused me of selling their land, and they never believed my denial.

As the community chairman, I cannot sell land that belongs to families in the community. As I speak to you, my father did not have any land there and I will not get involved in what does not belong to me or my family.

We want the government to help; we don’t want to sell land, and whoever bought any land should go and retrieve his or her money because that land along the East-West road that belonged to the Edjekota community is not for sale.”

Also, 80 years Pa Isaac Erutere said, “This is the land of our forefathers, where we were born and brought up. We farmed here, but surprisingly, we saw a bulldozer in our land that we did not sell. Hence, we are protesting.

“We want the government to intervene as we are yet to identify those who sell and those who bought. Our land is not for sale as it is the only inheritance from our forefathers.

“We don’t know the buyer, and that is why we came in mass to protest and alert the State and federal governments that people have encroached on our land. We want the government to help us.”