The Esobiebie family of Iriama Community in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State has raised alarm over what it described as a plot by land grabbers to forcibly take over their ancestral land.
During a visit to the Edjeba Office of Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) Warri last week, family members appealed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and law enforcement agencies to urgently stop the alleged encroachment.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr. Paul Esobiebie dismissed recent media reports suggesting that another group owned the disputed land. He insisted that “all the lands in Iriama Community belong to the Esobiebie and Djeba families.”
According to him, their forefathers only allowed some strangers to farm on a portion of the land many years ago, but descendants of those settlers are now claiming ownership. “It is misleading for anyone to claim rights to land that was merely given to their parents for farming,” he said.
Mr. Esobiebie further stated that the family has repeatedly won court cases affirming their ownership and warned those attempting to seize the land to desist. “The land belongs to the Esobiebie family, and we reserve the right to sell, lease or use it as we deem fit,” he added.
Other family members, including Shedrach Esobiebie, Goodluck Esobiebie, Blessing Esobiebie, and Harrison Esobiebie, said they want peace and development in Iriama and have plans to put the land to productive use.
They appealed to the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Orhue I, to call the alleged land grabbers to order and prevent further tension in the community.
