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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

19 Ondo communities protest land encroachment by Delta neighbors

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Residents from 19 oil-producing communities in Ondo State protested alleged land encroachment by neighboring communities in Delta State.
  • The protesters called on the Ondo State Government to intervene and prevent the dispute from escalating into an inter-state crisis.
  • Community leaders cited the economic value of the oil-rich area as a reason for the repeated pressure and encroachment.

Nineteen oil-producing communities in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have protested alleged land encroachment by individuals from neighboring communities in Delta State. The residents, representing the affected coastal communities, voiced their concerns on Friday, urging the Ondo State Government to intervene and de-escalate the burgeoning inter-state dispute.

Odun Makin Community belongs to Ugbo in Ilaje LGA, Ondo State.

— Protester PlacardAssertion of territorial claim during the protest.

The protesting communities, including Odun Ebiwon, Odun Makin, and Ilu Titun, carried placards with messages asserting their territorial claims and calling for peace. A community leader, Mr. Busayo Ebiniyi, stated that the areas have faced repeated pressure due to their rich oil and mineral resources. He emphasized that the protest aimed to draw attention to the situation, calm rising tensions, and prevent any breakdown of law and order.

We Don’t Want Crisis in Our Land.

— Protester PlacardExpression of desire for peace amidst the dispute.

Ebiniyi appealed to the Ondo State Government for urgent intervention, highlighting that the dispute threatens the peace of the residents. He affirmed that while the communities embrace peace, they would not tolerate suppression or intimidation. Another leader, Ebiwonjumi Olumide, reiterated that the affected areas are part of the Ugbo Kingdom in Ilaje Local Government Area and have historically been under the authority of the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom.

Ilaje People Are Peace-Loving, We Say No to Inter-State Crisis.

— Protester PlacardStatement of community's peaceful nature and rejection of conflict.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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