The Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom and Otulu, both in Aniocha South Local Government Area in Delta State, have accused each other of land grabbing.
While Otulu accused people from Ogwashi-Uku of seizing large tracts of its land, the latter strongly denied allegations raised by some group known as “United and Concerned Indigenes of Otulu” (UCIO).
The UCIO, which claimed to represent the Otulu people, has called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to wade into what they described as Ogwashi-Uku’s tyranny.
The Otulu group, under the umbrella of Otulu Community Development Union, accused His Royal Majesty, Obi Ifechukwude, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, of being behind the seizure of ancestral lands belonging to Otulu.
Nwaka also recalled that Otulu is an autonomous community and called on the government to intervene to prevent further crisis.
Nwaka further appealed to Governor Oborevwori and state security services to rein in the Ogwashi-Uku monarch, warning that the continued tensions would result in further instability in Otulu.
He appealed to the state government to assist Otulu to recover lands allegedly taken over by Ogwashi-Uku.
But Chief Jude Obidi, one of the most popular chiefs of Ogwashi-Uku, quickly released a statement denying the allegations as baseless.
He said Otulu has at all times remained an integral part of the Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, with various documents in proof, both from the historical and legal points of view.
Obidi described the rally as a misguided move by a few individuals to incite violence and cause divisions.
The so-called demonstration was only joined by five people, none from Otulu. “This is nothing more than an attempt to spread misinformation and destabilize the community,” Obidi remarked.
He further described the action of the group as a poorly acted out script at stirring up social unrest.
Obidi said Otulu was legally part of Ogwashi-Uku, and such government papers to prove same were gazettes from the Western Region, Bendel State, and Delta State, all naming Otulu as one of its villages.
He added that the current ruler of Otulu, Anthony Enurah, was so appointed by the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku and is statutorily recognized by the Delta State Government.
Elders of Otulu, who had lived in the community for over 40 years, corroborated that indeed Otulu had been a peaceful place in recent years due to the imprisonment of those responsible for violence in the past.
They said the granting of bail to such criminals and putting them together with the likes of Nwaka have caused the escalation of violence in the community.
They commended the leadership provided by Chief Enurah to ensure restoration of peace, particularly through law enforcement coordination in curbing the recent activities of criminal elements.
They averred that most of the members of the organization are not from Otulu but from surrounding places like Issele-Uku and as such have no genuine claim to Otulu property.
They concluded by appealing to the group to desist from trying to rewrite history and shed blood.
They said Nwaka and his accomplices were being sponsored by one Charles Ogboli, a fugitive wanted by Nigerian police for causing mayhem in the community.
They reiterated that Otulu remains a known and recognized part of the Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, which they maintained was not an issue for argument.
