The Executive Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Chief Hon. Obarilomate Ollor, has disclosed that all individuals and entities allegedly involved in the disputed occupation of Eleme ancestral lands have been directed to suspend all activities and vacate the affected areas pending a comprehensive investigation.
Chief Ollor made this known shortly after a tripartite meeting convened by the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, involving stakeholders from Eleme and Okrika Local Government Areas.
The meeting followed recent concerns over alleged illegal land encroachment, land grabbing, and attacks on indigenous landowners in Eleme, particularly along the Woji–Aleto–Alesa Link Road, the Railway Corridor, and the High Tension area of Aleto and other parts of Eleme to include Alode and Akpajo-Agbonchia.
The incidents had sparked protests that temporarily disrupted movement along the Eleme axis of the East–West Road, including Refinery Junction, Alode Junction, and GVC Junction.
According to the Chairman, both delegations presented their respective positions before the Commissioner of Police in a constructive engagement aimed at restoring peace, safeguarding lives and property, and promoting harmonious coexistence between the two neighbouring communities.
He emphasized that the meeting established that the matter is not an ethnic conflict between the people of Eleme and Okrika, but a dispute triggered by criminal activities by few desperate and uninformed individuals that will require lawful resolution.
Consequently, all parties were directed to formally submit their claims and supporting documents to the Office of the Commissioner of Police for proper investigation.
Chief Ollor further stated that, pending the conclusion of the investigation and the determination of all legal claims, the Commissioner of Police directed that all activities within the disputed areas be suspended, while those allegedly occupying the land without lawful authority should vacate the affected locations to allow security agencies to conduct an unhindered investigation.
Chief Ollor assured Eleme people that his government will monitor the process to ensure all parties adhere to the directive while calling on original land owners to remain vigilant and report any perceived trespasses or further encroachment to his office.
He said his government will setup a panel to receive formal petitions from aggrived land owners whose lands have been encroached on with a view of helping them reclaim and recover their properties..
The Executive Chairman commended the swift intervention of the Rivers State Police Command and reassured the people of Eleme that his administration remains fully committed to protecting their ancestral heritage through lawful means. He urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding, and confident in the ongoing efforts of government and security agencies to ensure that justice is served, peace is preserved, and the rule of law prevails.