Police probe fresh Rivers communal clash

The Rivers State Police Command is investigating a resurgence of communal violence between residents of Eleme and Okrika local government areas. The clashes, which erupted Thursday night, are reportedly tied to a long-standing land dispute between the two communities, both of which host the Port Harcourt Refining Company.

This latest outbreak of violence saw a vehicle set ablaze and created significant tension, prompting residents to flee. A community source indicated that two individuals are missing, and a search team has been mobilized. Viral videos depicted a burning vehicle amidst sporadic gunfire, underscoring the severity of the situation.

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Our farmers are now compelled to pay illegal tolls before accessing their farmlands, while indigenous landowners are harassed, intimidated, and extorted whenever they attempt to inspect or protect their properties.

In response, the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Obarilomate Ollor, announced an immediate suspension of all real estate activities within the council. Ollor accused land speculators, developers, and thugs of instigating the crisis by invading ancestral lands, particularly along the Woji–Aleto–Alesa Link Road and the Akpajo axis of the Port Harcourt Ring Road. He warned that violators would face prosecution.

Ollor detailed how farmers are forced to pay illegal tolls to access their lands, and indigenous landowners face harassment and extortion. He cited a 1957 Supreme Court judgment and a judicial commission's white paper as legal backing for Eleme's claim to the disputed land. The chairman urged prospective investors to avoid purchasing land from criminal syndicates using forged documents, emphasizing that the local government would prosecute those involved in illegal land grabbing.

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This unacceptable situation has resulted in the loss of lives, destruction of property, and a growing threat to peace, security, and lawful economic activities within Eleme.