By Abbas Nazil
Escalating land-grabbing activities in Delta State have prompted youths from Ogbe-Akwu Community in Ogwashi-Uku to stage a peaceful protest, voicing serious concerns over the crippling effects on agriculture—their primary source of livelihood.
The protest, held last Monday, was directed at the Palace of the traditional ruler of the community, Obi (Dr.) Ifechukwude Aninshi Okonjo II, and the secretariat of Aniocha South Local Government Council.
The protesters alleged that individuals from the neighbouring Ibusa community in Oshimili North Local Government Area have been persistently encroaching on their ancestral farmlands.
Carrying placards with messages such as “LGA, help our farmers and hunters from molestation and intimidation on our farmlands,” and “We say, No to Ibusa land grabbers,” the demonstrators marched through the streets of Ogwashi-Uku, joined by youths from Ogbe-Ahu/Ogbe-Ani and Ogbe-Ofu quarters.
They claimed that repeated trespasses by alleged land grabbers had not only disrupted farming activities but also led to the harassment and eviction of elderly men, women, and hunters from their lands.
Leading the protest was Comrade Stanley Chiedu, President-General of the Ogwashi-Uku Youth Development Association, who described the situation as “persistent provocation” that is pushing the community to the edge of tolerance.
According to him, the actions of the alleged intruders—operating under the guise of possessing questionable survey plans—have made farming and hunting increasingly unsafe, while threatening the economic survival of the people.
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He urged government authorities, security agencies, and traditional institutions to intervene promptly to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
Responding to the protesters on behalf of the monarch, the Palace Secretary, Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi, commended the youths for maintaining a peaceful stance despite repeated provocations.
He acknowledged the distress caused by the land grabbers and revealed that the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku is actively pursuing justice through lawful channels.
Emordi pointed out that the survey plans being used by the encroachers had already been declared invalid by a Supreme Court ruling.
He further informed the crowd that two ongoing lawsuits at the Federal High Court in Abuja and the Delta State High Court in Asaba were addressing the matter comprehensively.
While assuring the protesters of the monarch’s commitment to ensuring justice and holding the perpetrators accountable, Emordi cautioned them against taking the law into their own hands.
He emphasized the importance of following due legal processes and noted that relevant law enforcement agencies had been alerted about the criminal trespass and destruction being carried out on Ogwashi-Uku lands.
Comrade Chiedu, echoing the frustration of the protesters, stressed that the situation had become unbearable, as community members could no longer farm or hunt without facing threats.
He lamented the loss of livelihoods and appealed once more to government and traditional authorities to act swiftly to protect the community’s inheritance and restore peace to the area.
