ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Government has called for restraint and peaceful conduct from residents of Ibusa and Ogwashi-Uku communities following renewed tensions over a protracted land dispute between the two neighbouring towns.
Chief of Staff, Government House, Asaba, Prince Johnson Erijo, made the appeal on Monday while addressing members of the Ibusa community who staged a peaceful protest at Government House, alleging fresh encroachment on their land by the Ogwashi-Uku community.
The demonstrators, bearing placards with inscriptions such as “Ogwashi-Uku keep off from Ibusa land, we have Supreme Court verdict on the land,” “Implement Supreme Court judgment, Ibusa is a peaceful community,” and “Admiralty University is in Ibusa land, Ogwashi-Uku keep off,” urged the state government to enforce what they described as subsisting court judgments on the disputed boundary.
Responding on behalf of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Prince Erijo commended the Ibusa community for conducting the protest peacefully and assured them that the state government had already begun taking steps to address the matter.
He disclosed that the government had received prior communication regarding the dispute before the protest and had initiated action accordingly.
“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. In fact, we were in receipt of this correspondence before your visit today, and steps had already been taken prior to the weekend,” Erijo said.
He appealed to both communities to remain law-abiding, emphasizing that the responsibility of government is to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
“Be assured that the government will effectively ensure that law and order is maintained and that the issues raised are carefully examined. 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.
Speaking on behalf of the Ibusa community, Barrister Peter Lotobi described the dispute as a long-standing boundary matter which, according to him, had been conclusively settled by competent courts.
He explained that the case was initially determined by the High Court after due consideration of the boundary between Ibusa and Ogwashi-Uku, and was subsequently affirmed by the Court of Appeal in 1982 when the opposing party challenged the judgment.
Lotobi further noted that the Supreme Court upheld the concurrent decisions in Appeal No. SC.32/1985, dismissing the appeal and reinforcing the earlier rulings.
“We are a peaceful and law-abiding community. We have exercised restraint and counseled our youths to remain calm. That is why we have brought this matter before the Delta State Government,” he stated.
He urged the state government to intervene decisively to ensure that the judgments of the courts are upheld and enforced in the interest of justice, peace and lasting stability.
