Abigborodo community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State has strongly refuted allegations made by the Sapele Okpe community regarding land ownership disputes and accusations of bias against Delta State’s Special Adviser on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor.
The dispute centers on Seplat Energy’s operations and the recognition of host communities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
In a statement issued by Abigborodo leaders on Monday, signed by Hon. Misan Ukubehinje, Chairman of the Abigborodo Management Committee, and other key community representatives, they described the Sapele Okpe community’s allegations as baseless and a deliberate attempt to distort facts.
“From time immemorial, Abigborodo has been the rightful owner of the land covering the areas where Seplat operates, including Ugbekoko, which houses Seplat’s jetty and oil wells,” said Hon. Ukubehinje.
The Abigborodo community expressed frustration over Seplat Energy’s refusal to recognize them as a host community despite multiple appeals.
“We have written countless letters to Seplat, highlighting our legitimate claim, but they continue to sideline us and label us as an ‘impacted community,’ which we outrightly reject,” Ukubehinje added.
They further claimed that Seplat’s ongoing operations, including preparations for new drilling sites near Abigborodo, amounted to trespassing.
“We have consistently urged them to stop illegal activities on our land until this issue is resolved, but they refuse to comply,” the community stated.
Dismissing claims of bias by Chief Edwin Uzor, the Abigborodo community noted that the January 16, 2025, site visit by the Peace Building Committee was conducted transparently.
“The committee’s visit was public and included representatives from the Department of State Security (DSS), police, and local government officials.
The Sapele Okpe community’s claim of exclusion is unfounded,” they said.
They further accused the Sapele Okpe community of fabricating narratives to undermine the investigation, adding that their insistence on Chief Uzor’s removal was a deliberate ploy to delay justice.
The Abigborodo community also condemned attempts to implicate Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, the Alema of Warri, in the dispute.
“Dragging our revered leader’s name into this matter is defamatory and disrespectful. Chief Uduaghan was not involved in the investigation, yet the Sapele Okpe community continues to spread baseless allegations,” Ukubehinje said.
They clarified that the ongoing dispute had no connection to the Okpe-Sobo forest reserve, which the Sapele Okpe community referenced, explaining that the forest reserve issue was resolved and gazetted in 2021.
The community also criticized Ugbukurusu’s claim to the disputed land, noting that the community is over 15 kilometers away from the areas in contention.
They detailed peaceful protests staged in November 2024 to draw attention to their plight after Seplat ignored directives to halt operations.
“We had no choice but to exercise our constitutional right to protest. Our demands are simple: recognize Abigborodo as a host community and stop the illegal activities on our land,” Ukubehinje narrated.
The protests, whichh lasted four days, led to a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Nigerian Army’s 90 Amphibious Battalion. “The resolution was to suspend protests for two weeks to allow discussions, yet Seplat chose to escalate the issue by petitioning the Governor against us,” the community stated.
They accused the Sapele Okpe community of attempting to mislead the public for personal gain. “Their press statements are driven by greed and falsehood.
The evidence is clear, and we are confident that any future investigations will uphold the truth,” said Ukubehinje.
As tensions persist, the Abigborodo community expressed readiness for further engagements to defend their claims. “We are prepared to welcome any additional investigations.
The facts remain unchanged, and we will continue to assert our rights as the rightful host community to Seplat,” they said.
The dispute underscores the challenges of implementing the Petroleum Industry Act and recognizing host communities.
For the Abigborodo community, the fight is about justice and preserving their ancestral land, while for the Sapele Okpe community, it’s about inclusion and fairness.
The Delta State government has yet to issue an official statement, but all eyes are on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to mediate and bring lasting resolution to the escalating tensions.
Both communities hope for a peaceful conclusion, though their contrasting narratives reflect deep-seated grievances over land and resource control.
