The Delta State Government has called on the people of Ibusa and Ogwashi-Uku communities in Oshimili North and Aniocha South Local Government Areas to maintain peace amid renewed tensions over a long-standing land dispute.

Chief of Staff, Government House, Asaba, Prince Johnson Erijo, made the appeal on Monday while addressing members of the Ibusa community who staged a peaceful protest to Government House over what they described as encroachment on their land by Ogwashi-Uku community.

The protesters, who carried placards with inscriptions such as “Ogwashi-Uku keep off from Ibusa land, we have Supreme Court verdict on the land,” “Implement Supreme Court judgment, Ibusa is a peaceful community,” and “Admiralty University is in Ibusa land, Ogwashi-Uku keep off,” called on the state government to enforce what they said were subsisting court judgments on the disputed boundary.

Addressing the demonstrators on behalf of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Prince Erijo commended the Ibusa community for conducting themselves peacefully and assured them that the government was already taking steps to address the matter.

He added that the state government had received the correspondence on the dispute prior to the protest and had begun taking necessary steps.

“As a government, there are established procedures for handling matters of this nature, and I want to assure you that we are already acting on this communication. In fact, we were in receipt of this correspondence before your visit today, and steps had already been taken prior to the weekend,” Erijo stated.

He appealed to both communities to remain law-abiding, stressing that government exists to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order.

“Be assured that the government will effectively ensure that law and order is maintained and that the issues raised are carefully examined. At the end of the process, the government will come out with a decision that will be fair, justifiable, and in the overall interest of peace and stability,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the Ibusa community, Barr. Peter Lotobi traced the history of the dispute, describing it as a long-standing boundary matter that had been conclusively determined by competent courts.

According to him, the case was first decided by the High Court, which delivered judgment after considering the boundary between Ibusa and Ogwashi-Uku.

He said the decision was subsequently affirmed by the Court of Appeal in 1982 after the opposing party challenged it, and later upheld by the Supreme Court in Appeal No. SC.32/1985, which dismissed the appeal and affirmed the concurrent judgments of the lower courts.

“We are a peaceful and law-abiding community. We have exercised restraint and counseled our youths to remain calm. That is why we have brought this matter before the Delta State Government,” Lotobi said.

He urged the state government to intervene decisively to ensure that the judgments of the courts are upheld and enforced in the interest of justice, peace and stability in the state.