Ugbekoko Accuses Sapele Okpe of Land Grab, Seeks Oborevwori’s Intervention

A long-running land dispute between the Ugbekoko community and the Sapele Okpe community in Sapele Local Government Area has intensified following a statement from the Ugbekoko leadership. The Ugbekoko community has rejected claims made by Sapele Okpe over ownership of disputed land and accused them of fabricating historical narratives, with the involvement of SEPLAT Energy.

In a press release, the Ugbekoko leadership provided a historical context to back their claim, asserting that their community predates the establishment of the Okpe-Sobo Forest Reserve. They explained that the land in question was leased to their ancestor, Aribiowu of Ifon, by the Abigborodo people in 1919, well before the British administration created the reserve in 1933.

The Ugbekoko leaders also referenced a Delta State Judicial Commission of Inquiry that they claim affirmed their ownership of the land. The commission reportedly found that the Sapele Okpe community had sold their 1,200 hectares of allocated land to CEDDI Corporation Ltd but later attempted to fraudulently claim an additional 760.63 hectares.

“The commission exposed fraudulent attempts by the Sapele Okpe community to extend their claim beyond the 1,200 hectares allocated to them in 1999,” the statement continued. “Their actions violate the rights of the rightful landowners and undermine the judicial process.”

Further complicating the dispute, the Ugbekoko leadership accused SEPLAT Energy of being complicit in the alleged land-grab. They claim that SEPLAT recognized the Sapele Okpe community as stakeholders in areas that belong to Ugbekoko, including key oil infrastructure such as flow stations, pipelines, and drilling sites, which are all situated on Ugbekoko land.

Tensions have also been fueled by accusations from the Sapele Okpe community that the Delta State Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Committee, led by Chief Edwin Uzor, showed bias during its investigation. The Ugbekoko community dismissed these claims as attempts to derail the peace process, insisting that the committee’s efforts were fair and impartial.

A previous investigation by the Delta State Judicial Commission of Inquiry had reportedly mandated oil companies in the region to pay royalties to the Ugbekoko community. However, Ugbekoko leaders claim that these payments have not been fully implemented.

In their statement, the Ugbekoko leadership called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to disregard what they described as “false and misleading claims” made by the Sapele Okpe community. They urged the governor to continue supporting the peace committee and take swift action to resolve the matter.