A contentious land dispute between the Ugbekoko community and the Sapele Okpe community, located in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, has intensified following a recent statement from Ugbekoko leaders.
The Ugbekoko community has firmly rejected assertions made by their Sapele Okpe counterparts and accused them of fabricating historical details to justify their claims over Ugbekoko land, purportedly with the support of SEPLAT Energy.
In their official statement, the leaders of Ugbekoko presented historical evidence to substantiate their ownership claims, contending that their community existed prior to the creation of the Okpe-Sobo Forest Reserve.
They state that the land in question was leased to their ancestor, Aribiowu of Ifon, by the Abigborodo people in 1919—well before the British colonial government established the reserve in 1933.
“Our ancestor, Aribiowu, obtained a lease for this land from the Abigborodo people in 1919,” the statement emphasized.
“This agreement was formalized by representatives from both communities, Pa Edun and Okomama. It is absurd for the Sapele Okpe community to assert ownership rights to land with which they have no lawful or historical connection.”
Additionally, the Ugbekoko community referred to findings from a Delta State Judicial Commission of Inquiry that purportedly reaffirmed their claim to the disputed land.
According to the inquiry, the Sapele Okpe community had previously sold their designated 1,200 hectares to CEDDI Corporation Ltd and later attempted to fraudulently claim an extra 760.63 hectares.
“The commission uncovered the Sapele Okpe community’s deceptive efforts to extend their claims beyond the 1,200 hectares allocated to them in 1999,” the Ugbekoko statement claimed.
“Such actions compromise the integrity of the judicial system and infringe on the rights of legitimate landholders.”
Furthermore, Ugbekoko leaders implicated SEPLAT Energy in the alleged unlawful encroachment, stating that the company has recognized the Sapele Okpe community as stakeholders in regions that belong to Ugbekoko.
They pointed out that all SEPLAT’s upstream oil operations, including flow stations, jetties, pipelines, and drilling sites, are situated on Ugbekoko land.
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“This constitutes a deliberate and unlawful intrusion into our territory, facilitated by SEPLAT Energy. We are prepared to challenge this through legal avenues,” the leaders declared.
The dispute escalated with accusations from the Sapele Okpe community alleging bias on the part of the Delta State Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Committee, chaired by Chief Edwin Uzor. In defense, Ugbekoko leaders dismissed these claims as unwarranted attempts to undermine the investigation.
“It is absurd for them to suggest that Chief Edwin Uzor’s committee is biased, particularly when it was their own leadership that neglected to partake in joint inspections of the contested land,” Ugbekoko leaders contended.
“Their demand for Chief Uzor’s removal seems to be a calculated effort to intimidate the panel and sway the investigation in their favour.”
This conflict arises from long-standing disagreements regarding the ownership of the Okpe-Sobo Forest Reserve and its adjacent lands. While the Sapele Okpe community claims rights to the reserve, the Ugbekoko community argues that their territory was improperly included in the reserve without the prior consent of their ancestors or the Abigborodo people, who were the original lessors.
In the past, a Delta State Judicial Commission of Inquiry mandated that oil companies operating in the region pay royalties to the Ugbekoko community, yet Ugbekoko leaders assert that these directives still remain largely ignored.
Ugbekoko leaders have urgently appealed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to overlook what they term “false and misleading accusations” from the Sapele Okpe community.
They urged the governor to maintain his backing of the Edwin Uzor-led peace committee and to act swiftly to resolve the dispute.
“Your Excellency, we earnestly ask you to uphold the truth and ensure justice is served. The unfounded allegations by the Sapele Okpe community should not be allowed to obstruct this investigation,” the statement concluded.
Observers have warned that if the ongoing land dispute is not handled with care, it could lead to heightened tensions between the involved communities. Both parties seek justice, but their conflicting narratives underscore the historical grievances and divisions fuelling the dispute.
As the state government weighs its options, all eyes are on Governor Oborevwori to facilitate a peaceful resolution. The Ugbekoko community remains resolute, asserting that “conscience is an open wound; only the truth can heal it”.
The question remains whether truth and justice can mend the growing rift.
