Tensions are rising in Ogwashi Uku Kingdom, located in Delta State’s Aniocha South Local Government Area, as local youths staged a peaceful protest on Monday, decrying what they described as persistent encroachment on their ancestral land by individuals allegedly linked to neighboring communities.
The demonstrators, drawn from several quarters of Ogwashi Uku—including Umuokwe, Umuneze, Umuonicha, and Umu-Isagba Ogai—accused land speculators from Ibusa, in Oshimili North LGA, of gradually taking over farmlands and forest areas traditionally used for hunting and agriculture.
Carrying placards with messages like “Stop the Intimidation of Our Farmers” and “Ibusa Land Grabbing Must End”, the youth marched through the community, eventually arriving at the palace of the traditional ruler to present their grievances.
Speaking during the protest, Comrade Stanley Chiedu, President General of the Ogwashi Uku Youth Development Association (OYDA), called on government officials, security operatives, and community leaders to intervene. He described the situation as a growing threat to the livelihood and identity of the people.
“For a long time now, our farmers have faced constant harassment, their crops destroyed, and our land overtaken without any accountability,” Chiedu said. “Today, we’ve chosen to raise our voices not in violence, but in demand for justice. Our community’s inheritance is being lost in broad daylight.”
He emphasized that farming and hunting are vital to the local economy, both of which have now become dangerous or nearly impossible for residents.
“Our women are being chased off farmland, and hunters can no longer enter the bush. This is who we are—this is our way of life—and it’s being eroded,” he added, urging the local government chairman, police authorities, and traditional leadership to act swiftly.
Responding to the protest, Prince Ifeakanachuku Emordi, Secretary to the Obi-in-Council, thanked the youths for expressing their concerns peacefully. He assured them that the dispute would be addressed through legal and diplomatic channels.
Similarly, the Aniocha South Local Government Chairman, Pastor Jude Chukuweike, represented by Council Secretary Prince Tony Ebube, said efforts were already underway to mediate between the two communities. He noted that the council had been in talks with leaders from Oshimili North LGA to reach a long-term resolution on the boundary issues.
The standoff between Ogwashi Uku and Ibusa over land rights has drawn attention across Delta State, with many calling for formal boundary demarcation and legal clarity to prevent further escalation.
As residents await a resolution, the protesters hope their appeal sparks decisive action to preserve what they describe as both a livelihood and a legacy.
