Author: Tribune Online

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The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSLAW) has warned against the diversion of officially procured weapons. The national coordinator of the centre, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG),  Johnson Kokumo (retd), gave the warning at the inauguration of a capacity development programme on Arms Physical Security and Stockpile Management […]

Residents of Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State came together in a show of unity and community spirit as the Asiwaju Odumosu Foundation organised a peaceful solidarity walk, on Saturday, in support of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Dapo Abiodun. The procession drew youths, women, traders and community members who filled major streets with songs, banners and […]

Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former oil minister, told jurors on Monday, she did not abuse her position to seek or take bribes, as she stands trial on corruption charges in London. Alison-Madueke, minister for petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015 under then-President Goodluck Jonathan, has pleaded not guilty to five- counts of accepting bribes and a […]

Threaten fresh action The Akoko communities of Ondo State have kicked against the failure of the state government to comply with the judgment nullifying the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state. Speaking on behalf of the people, a socio-cultural and developmental organisation in the state, the Akoko Development Group (ADG), threatened to seek […]

The Federal Government’s local content policy in infrastructure delivery is gaining traction on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, as HITECH Construction Company, contractor handling section 3B part of the highway ramps up community engagement and workforce inclusion across the Cross River axis. Field assessments and stakeholder interactions on Section 3B of the project reveal that […]

Cocoa and coffee farmers under the aegis of Cocoa and Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COCEFAAA), have announced a three-year development plan for Africa. According to them, the aim of the initiative was to inform stakeholders in the cocoa and coffee sectors, as well as the general public, of what COCEFAAA plans  up with […]

•Condoles military, state govt over escalating terrorists attacks The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for the immediate development, adoption, and implementation of a comprehensive national policy on the protection of civilians. A statement by the Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages of the NHRC, Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, on Monday, said the Executive Secretary […]

By Paul Olayemi

OBITUGBO—For generations, the people of Obitugbo, a quiet Itsekiri community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State have farmed, built homes, and raised families on land their ancestors settled centuries ago. 

The community is known for its peaceful coexistence with neighbours and hopes for a brighter future, including a proposed university that could transform local lives. But today, that future feels fragile. 

Leaders of Obitugbo community at a media chat noted that a storm of inflammatory statements and online rhetoric from certain individuals in the neighbouring Oghara community is threatening to tear apart the harmony they have carefully nurtured for decades. 

What began as claims over land has now escalated into fears of unrest between Itsekiri and Urhobo residents – two groups that have long coexisted without serious conflict. 

“We are not looking for a fight,” Mr. Joseph Taye Akuyoma, chairman of the Obitugbo Community Management Committee, said, his voice heavy with concern. “We are peace-loving people. But we cannot stand by while calls are made for outsiders to mobilise against us. Our children are afraid. Our elders are troubled.” 

The community’s plea is simple and urgent, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, they said, must step in now, before words turn into weapons. 

Obitugbo’s leaders pointed out that they are not strangers to dialogue. Over the years, they have resolved differences with neighbouring settlements through official channels, always choosing calm over confrontation, 

Dr. Chris Eburajolo, chairman of the Koko Community Management Authority, backed them up, affirming that Obitugbo’s boundaries are well established. Comrade Akra Utien Daniel of Ajagbodudu also echoed the same plea, respect history, respect borders, and protect coexistence.

But what keeps Obitugbo awake at night is not just the past; it is the promise of tomorrow. The community has been identified as a site for development projects, including the proposed University of Warri. For many residents, that university represents hope: jobs, education for their children, and a future beyond subsistence. 

“Stability is everything,” Mr. Dandy Adagba, secretary of the committee said. “If tension explodes into conflict, investors will flee. The school won’t come. Our young people will suffer. That cannot happen,” he added. 

The committee’s member, Pa Broderick Utienyin, an elder who has seen decades of change along the creeks and farmland of Warri North, puts it most simply: “This land is our identity. We will protect it, but we want to protect it in peace. All we ask is that the government sends security agencies to watch over us and call everyone to a table for dialogue.” 

As of now, no violence has been reported. But in Obitugbo, the air is thick with anxiety. Leaders are urging all parties to put down rhetoric, pick up reason, and remember that neighbours are not enemies.

The post ‘We only want peace’, Delta community pleads for help as land tension rises  appeared first on Vanguard News.