Contrary to the Delta state government’s assertion that it has resolved the longstanding land dispute between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities, the Aladja People’s Movement for Peace has refuted these claims.
The group, in a statement yesterday, expressed its intent to seek legal redress to secure Aladja communal lands.
The group emphasized that the land dispute between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh Communities in Udu and Warri South-West Local Government Areas of Delta State remains unresolved. It strongly opposed the alleged “forceful acquisition” of Aladja community land by the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori-led administration.
Mr. Simon Sibitor and Mr. Ejovwo Tietie, the group’s coordinators, spoke with reporters in Warri, stating their shock over the government’s claims of resolution. Sibitor warned that the government’s actions have favored the Ijaw nation through the Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh crisis.
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He asserted that the disputed land rightfully belongs to the Aladja community, emphasizing that the government must be prepared to resort to extreme measures if it insists on acquiring the land by force. Sibitor stated, “The land in dispute belongs to Aladja and if the government wants to acquire the land by force, the government must be ready to kill everybody.”
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The group questioned the Delta State Government’s decision to use the minority report of the panel of enquiry instead of the majority report adopted by the immediate past government. They claimed that previous administrations, including those of ex-Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan and Arthur Okowa, rejected the demands of the Ijaws to acquire the land from Aladja people by force, suggesting that these governors recognized the land as belonging to Aladja.
In conclusion, the Aladja People’s Movement for Peace rejected the government’s resolution and vowed to pursue legal action to protect their land rights.