By Awyetu Asabe Hope
Indigenes of 17 Ogoni communities displaced during the 1994 military invasion have raised fresh concerns over alleged encroachment and illegal sale of their ancestral lands in Rivers State.
The affected communities, spread across Tai, Eleme, and Oyigbo local government areas, accused some neighbouring groups and outsiders of forcefully entering their land and selling plots without the consent of the rightful owners.
Speaking during a remembrance event marking the 32nd anniversary of the invasion, community representatives described the development as a continuation of decades-long injustice that began under the regime of Sani Abacha.
A women leader from Lekuma, Esther Gboro, alleged that suspected land grabbers frequently invade the area with survey tools, demarcate land, and sell plots at low prices to unsuspecting buyers.
She said the community recently mobilised to resist one such attempt, insisting residents were determined to protect what remains of their heritage.
Community leader, Prince Barifodum, said the people were yet to recover from the destruction of homes, farms, and livelihoods during the 1994 crisis, which he described as one of the darkest periods in Ogoniland’s history.
He warned estate developers and prospective buyers to stay away, stressing that no portion of Lekuma land is available for sale.
The communities also called on the Rivers State Government and the Federal Government to intervene and prevent further encroachment, while demanding justice and compensation for losses suffered during the military operation.
