Palpable tension rises in Okrika and Eleme, all in Rivers State, sharing borders with each other, as the Elemes issue a stern warning to the People of Okrika to desist from any act of trespass on their land.
The two ethnic groups have been known to live a cat and dog relationship, barely tolerating each other, when it comes to issues bordering on land, but have of recent lived in peace.
“The Eleme people will never concede any inch of their land except upon proper and due arrangement and will not tolerate any persons no matter how highly placed forcefully taking any of our land without our consent. By this Disclaimer, notice is hereby given to all individuals, corporate bodies, civil society organizations and others trespassing on any of the lands at the Alode and Alesa towns of Eleme beyond the 100ft measured at high water mark from Okrika Rivers or Creek to withdraw therefrom forthwith,” the people of Eleme have threatened in an advertorial in a national newspaper titled “Treaspass on Eleme land will not be tolerated,” and signed by Barr. Chief (Dr.) J.O Osaronu and Prof. Walter G. Ollor, for and on behalf of Eleme Ethnic Nationality, Rivers State.
The People of Eleme stated that they have noticed recently, unauthorized attempts by persons majorly from Okrika and other hirelings on Eleme land.
They said the relationship between the Okrikans and Elemes was originally based on trade which led the Elemes to invite the Okriakans to occupy their land along the coastal areas.
Quoting a Supreme Court judgment delivered in 1958, the people of Eleme said, “It is true that the ultimate or radical title and therefore, the reversionary right to this strip of land remains in the Applicants (Elemes), but the judgment appealed from declares and rightly protects, the possessory title therein of respondents. This is a recognized form of native customary tenure under which the individual members of the Okrika community may have rights of enjoyment, and even a right to transmit their beneficial enjoyment as members by transfer inter vivos or by succession.”
Quoting the Charles Grandville Commission of Inquiry into Eleme, Ogu and Okrika communal conflicts of January 2000, the People of Eleme held that it was the refusal of Okrikans to accept the fact that they (the Elemes) own the land, and even the 1000ft allowed, that had caused the crisis between the two ethnic nationalities.
“In the light of these facts, therefore the commission ascertained that it is the refusal of the Okrikans to accept the obvious fact that the land areas right down to the water edge or coastline, belong to the Elemes and that even the 1000 feet from the high water mark allowed them by both the Arbitration panel and court of competent jurisdiction was given to them by the Elemes for settlement for trading purposes only. That is the main crux of the remote causes of the continuing conflict between both parties.”
The Elemes further claimed that the Rivers State boundary commission has effected the monumentation of the areas affected by the 1000ft from high water mark, yet the people of Okrika have disregarded the beacons and have entered upon the land beyond the 1000ft.
They accused the Okrikans of bulldozing and damaging “economic crops and trees thereon with utmost impunity to the title and interest of the true owners and against even the warnings of the Rivers State Boundary Commission.”
When contacted to comment on the issue, those contacted refrained from commenting, saying they needed to go through the advertorial before making comments. ###
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