Lori-Ogbebor leads protest over land acquisition by govt

By Emma Arubi

WARRI—HUNDREDS of Itsekiri indigenes of Okere community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, were yesterday,  led on a protest by Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor against alleged forceful acquisition of their land, measuring over 3.197 hectares by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for the building of a model primary school.

The protesting community had gone before a Delta State High Court sitting in Warri, alleging trespass on their land and urged the court to restrain the state government from further trespassing on the said land.

Other defendants in the suit are the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Delta Pride and Gold Energy Investment Ltd.

The plaintiffs, who sought for an accelerated hearing in the matter, contended that if the defendants were not restrained and were allowed to finish building the school, it would foist on them (plaintiffs) a fait accompli.

The people of the community got angry, when, yesterday, at the court, the vacation judge did not show up while construction was going-on on the disputed land.

Chief Lori-Ogbebor, who led the community to court, consequently marched to the Office of Secretary to the State Government, to lodge formal complaints while Okere indigenes proceeded to the work site to dislodge the workers.