Delta Govt Urges Calm Over Ibusa–Ogwashi-Uku Boundary Protest

The Delta State Government has appealed for calm following renewed tensions between Ibusa and Ogwashi‑Uku communities in Oshimili North Local Government Area and Aniocha South Local Government Area over an alleged land encroachment dispute.

The call was made by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Asaba, Johnson Erijo, while addressing members of the Ibusa community who staged a peaceful protest at the Government House.

The protesters carried placards demanding enforcement of what they described as subsisting court judgments on the boundary matter. Some of the inscriptions read: “Ogwashi-Uku keep off from Ibusa land,” “Implement Supreme Court judgment,” and “Admiralty University is in Ibusa land.”

The protesters also alleged that the land dispute had been conclusively determined by the courts, citing decisions from the High Court, the Court of Appeal in 1982, and a Supreme Court ruling in Appeal No. SC.32/1985.

Speaking on behalf of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Erijo assured the community that the state government had begun taking steps to address the dispute even before the protest was staged.

He urged both communities to maintain peace, stressing that the government would follow due process in handling the matter.

“As a government, there are established procedures for handling issues of this nature. We are already acting on the correspondence received, and appropriate steps have been taken,” Erijo said.

He emphasised that the government would ensure law and order while carefully examining the boundary claims.

Representing the Ibusa community, legal practitioner Peter Lotobi traced the history of the dispute, stating that the boundary matter had been determined by competent courts, including the Supreme Court.

Lotobi urged the state government to intervene decisively to ensure enforcement of existing court judgments in the interest of peace and stability.
The community maintained that it remained peaceful and had cautioned its youths against violence while awaiting government intervention.

The dispute is linked to the presence of Admiralty University of Nigeria, which some protesters claim is located within Ibusa territory.
Authorities assured residents that the state government would arrive at a fair and lawful decision after reviewing all submissions from both communities.