Leaders and stakeholders of Alagbabiri Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to urgently intervene in the lingering boundary dispute between the community and its neighbours, alleging recurring attacks and abductions.
The community leaders made the appeal during a media interaction, saying the dispute had persisted for years and recently raised fresh concerns following the alleged abduction of some Alagbabiri youths on August 3, 2026.
The President-General of the community, Chief Ekpobimi Philip, said Alagbabiri had historically maintained peaceful relations with neighbouring communities, including Oboro, Bomadi and Olota, until the discovery of oil heightened disputes over land, boundaries and economic benefits.
“Our neighbouring communities had on several occasions crossed into Alagbabiri territory and attacked or abducted members of the community,” Philip alleged.
He recalled a 1995 incident in which he alleged that people from Oboro entered Alagbabiri at night, killed residents and destroyed property, including houses worth millions of naira.
According to him, the situation later calmed down following the deployment of security personnel to the community for more than a year.
Philip said the alleged abduction of Alagbabiri youths on August 3 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.
He said the community contacted the Delta State Commissioner of Police, who directed the Divisional Police Officer in Burutu to intervene.
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One of the alleged victims, who identified himself as Napolite, said he and his brother were carrying out their normal activities in the bush 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 and detained for about a day.
A former President-General of the community, Captain Philippe Emubosa, linked the boundary dispute to the history of oil exploration in the area, saying oil was discovered there in 1972.
He alleged that Alagbabiri was disadvantaged because many of its people were not educated when relevant decisions concerning the area were being made.
“We are not troublemakers, and that is why we are bringing this matter in an amicable way so that government should know our pain,” Emubosa said.
“We are appealing to the authorities to investigate the historical records and determine the rightful boundaries of the communities and give us our boundaries.”
Another community representative, Evangelist Moses Enyu Sargent, appealed to Tinubu and Oborevwori to intervene and establish clear boundaries between the communities.
“We don’t want problem, we want peace, let everybody know his own boundary,” Sargent said.
He said Alagbabiri had deliberately chosen government intervention rather than resorting 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,” he added.
