•Described the publication as misleading and the handiwork of disgruntled elements
•Urged Delta State government and the general public to disregard the publication
By Matthias Ogbagah & Bright Oboreh
EDJEKOTA – WORRIED by the alleged sales of disputed land and intimidation of Ewu-Urhobo people in Ughelli South local government area by the peace-loving community of Edjekota-Ogor in Ughelli North local government area both of Delta State, the President General (PG) of Edjekota-Ogor Community, Pastor Oghenemakpor Uyoh has condemned in strong terms the publication in its entirety.
Addressing newsmen, he said, the publication is the handiwork of some disgruntled elements from Ewu-Urhobo who vowed to destroy the long-ago peace and tranquility enjoined by Edjekota-Ogor and Ewu-Urhobo communities.
According to him, the publication is not only misleading, baseless, and malicious but it is a calculated attempt to cause confusion and to distract the conflict resolution committee set up by the Delta State government on the disputed land.
His words: “We, the good people of Edjekota-Ogor community, were surprised by the high level of disparency, misleading, and baseless publication by a few disgruntled elements in Ewu-Urhobo.
“The publication is not only misleading, baseless, fabricated to cause mayhem, but the authors have the intention of causing chaos between the two communities and discouraging the committee from carrying out their assignment peacefully.
“We never harass and intimidate any Ewu-Urhobo people in Ughelli South LGA as alleged in the said publication, the community’s vigilante members are well recognized by the Delta State police command, and they are on the road twenty-four hours to complement the efforts of the Nigeria Police by stopping and searching any suspicious movement not targeted at one or a particular group of people.
You would recall that recently, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer revealed that some suspected criminals were arrested in our community, and as a result, we beefed up our security architecture to avoid future occurrences.
“It would interest you to know that herdsmen have been terrorizing our people in their farmlands, raping our women, and only recently they invaded the community and kidnapped one of our sons, Ovo Onemu, from his house and killed him in the forest.
“On one occasion of stop and search, Edjekota Vigilante intercepted two persons from Ewu community on a motorcycle with weapons, and they were handed over to the police attached to Ughelli Area Command”.
According to him, “The particular land they are accused of selling is not part of the land laid in dispute, as I am speaking with you, the land in dispute is lying fallow pending the outcome of the committee set up by the Delta State government.
“Even before they went there to arrest some of our people early this year, which resulted in a crisis that led to the death of some persons from our community, the issue has been in court at Edjophe.
According to him, the building claimed by the author of the publication has nothing to do with the land in dispute, adding that the building has been there before the crisis that rocked both communities in April 2025.
“The owner of the building started the foundation of the building long before the crisis, when he was building the land thieves entered the premises, vandalized all the rods erected for the building. This caused the owner of the building to pause the work till recently, when he went back to continuing working at the site.
“We wish to inform the general public that Edjekota-Ogor in Ughelli North LGA did not have a problem with Ewu-Urhobo in Ughelli South LGA; the land dispute is between the Ohwodo family in Ewu-Urhobo and some families in Edjekota-Ogor, not between the two communities.
Some leaders of Edjekota, to collaborate with the PG, accused the Ohwodo family of Ewu of crying foul for cheap sympathy from the public, the government, and the committee set up by the Delta State government.
According to them, “Right from the very first time the incident happened, Edjekota people have been going to Ewu for ceremonies likewise the Ewu people, and nobody has been under attack from either side, so why now that the government is currently handling the matter.
“Those claiming ownership of the land in dispute cannot establish any fact that they own a piece of land in that place because the day the committee came for verification, they could point to any place as their land.”
