Leaders and stakeholders of Alagbabiri Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State have appealed to the state and Federal Governments to urgently intervene in the lingering boundary dispute between the community and neighbouring communities, alleging recurring attacks, abductions and encroachment on its territory.
The community leaders made the appeal during a media interaction, saying the disputes, which they claimed had persisted for years, had become more worrisome following an alleged attack and abduction of some Alagbabiri youths on August 3, 2026.
Alagbabiri is as a rural community in the Eghwu district of Ughelli South Local Government Area.
Ekpobimi Phili, the President-General of the community, said the community had historically maintained peaceful relations with neighbouring communities, including Oboro, Bomadi and Olota, with residents freely engaging in trade and other social activities.
The discovery of oil in Alagbabiri had changed the nature of relationships among the communities, with disputes over land, boundaries and economic benefits becoming increasingly contentious, he said.
He alleged that neighbouring communities had, on several occasions, crossed into Alagbabiri territory and attacked or abducted members of the community.
The PG recalled an incident in 1995 and alleged that people from Oboro entered Alagbabiri at night, killed residents and destroyed property, including houses worth millions of naira.
He said the situation eventually calmed down after security personnel were deployed to the community for more than a year, allowing residents to resume peaceful relations with neighbouring communities.
Philip said the latest incident involving the alleged abduction of Alagbabiri youths had renewed fears among residents.
‘On August 3, 2026, some Alagbabiri youths who had gone for legitimate business were intercepted by people from Oboro, who allegedly crossed the river separating the communities, captured them and took them away by boat,’ he said.
According to him, the community leadership immediately contacted the Delta State Commissioner of Police, who directed the Divisional Police Officer in Burutu to intervene.
‘They were taken away and detained by individuals from neighbouring communities rather than being handed over to government security agencies,’ he alleged.
Philip, however, acknowledged the interventions of the police, Department of State Services and other authorities, saying their efforts had helped prevent some of the disputes from escalating.
Narrating their ordeal, the two allegedly abducted youths who were taken away during the recent incident described their abduction as very unfortunate and devastating.
One of them, who identified himself as Napolite, said he and his brother had gone into the bush to carry out their normal activities when they were confronted by armed men from Oboro.
He alleged that their hands were tied behind their backs before they were taken away by boat.
According to him, they were subsequently transported to another location, where they were detained for about a day.
Tracing to the origin of the dispute, Captain Philippe Emubosa, a former President-General of the community, said the controversy could not be separated from the history of oil exploration in the area.
He said oil was discovered in the area in 1972, adding that documents available to the community contained historical references to the various communities associated with the disputed territory.
Emubosa alleged that Alagbabiri had been disadvantaged because many of its people were not educated when relevant decisions and arrangements concerning the area were being made.
He said the community had deliberately chosen dialogue instead of confrontation despite the seriousness of the dispute.
We are not troublemakers, and that is why we are bringing this matter in an amicable way so that government should know our pain, he said.
He appealed to the authorities to investigate the historical records and establish the rightful boundaries between the communities.
‘We are appealing to the authorities to investigate the historical records and determine the rightful boundaries of the communities and give us our boundaries,’ Emubosa said.
Moses Enyu Sergent, another community representative, said Alagbabiri had never sought conflict with its neighbours.
He said the River Niger and other waterways had historically separated the communities, adding that residents crossed the waterways for trading and other legitimate activities without necessarily claiming ownership of neighbouring territories.
‘We are appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the government to intervene in the matter and establish the boundaries clearly,’ Sargent said.
‘We don’t want problem, we want peace, let everybody know his own boundary,’ he added.
The community leadership commended security agencies for their interventions, saying the swift response of the police had helped prevent the recent incident from degenerating.
‘As a community, we deliberately chose to seek government intervention rather than resort to self-help.
We are very peaceful people, that’s why we have come here to appeal to the government before this thing gets out of hand,’ Sargent said.