The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, has said that government will deal decisively with anybody who trespasses on any part of the land in dispute between Okpanam and Issele-Azagba Communities within the state’s capital territory.
He gave the warning on Wednesday evening when he met with the leadership of both communities in Asaba.
According to him, the process of ensuring a permanent boundary between both communities is being finalized by the state government, and until this process is concluded, no individual, group, or community should lay claim to any portion of the land in dispute.
The Deputy Governor said, “This meeting has just one agenda: the land dispute between Okpanam and Issele-Azagba Communities.
”I can recall that sometime ago, both communities came to my office to ask for the government’s intervention in ensuring that there is a permanent boundary to ensure peaceful co-existence and good neighborliness.
”Government is doing its best to ensure that there is justice because it does not have any favourite among the communities; you are all Deltans, and you are equally loved and will be treated equally.
”Government is interested in peace and harmonious living because peace is one of the pillars of the MORE Agenda of this administration, and we will do everything that is legally possible for peace to reign supreme in any part of the state.
”The boundary delineation is still an ongoing process; yes, we have sent our team to the areas in dispute, but creating a boundary is not a quick job; it takes a lot of time; the process, at the end, will involve the Federal Government.
”We heard that most of you are preempting the government, which is very wrong, nobody should assume where the boundary will be, if anyone is involved in destroying somebody’s fence or somebody’s building in the disputed area, the person will be caught, treated as a criminal, and made to face the full wrath of the law.
”This is the last time that we will hear that people are taking the law into their own hands.
“Note that all land belongs to the government, and the government can take possession of the entire area in dispute if necessary.
”So, I am using this meeting today to tell you that everybody should calm down and let the status quo be maintained.
”Nobody should enter anywhere to destroy anything, if you are aggrieved, channel your complaints to the government, because if any earth-moving equipment is seen in the area, it will be impounded by the government.
”Let us keep the peace and patiently wait for the government to complete the process.”
The Ugoani of Okpanam, HRM Dr. Michael Mbanefo Ogbolu, and Elder Patrick Isichei, President-General, Issele-Azagba Community, who spoke on behalf of their communities, assured the Delta State government that no one would trespass on the land in dispute and that they would strictly abide by the government’s decisions.
