The Ogoni Peoples Assembly has raised serious concerns over what it described as alleged identity theft and land grabbing in parts of Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, warning that the situation could trigger a major crisis if not urgently addressed.
In a press statement issued in Port Harcourt on March 14, 2026, and signed by Probel Williams, the group accused certain interests of attempting to alter the identity and ownership structure of ancestral Ogoni lands, particularly in Ledor, Tumbee, and the wider Lekuma communities.
“We are witnessing a systemic campaign of displacement, identity theft, and corporate-induced tension in our ancestral lands,” the statement read. “This is not just a dispute over territory, but a deliberate effort to erase our history and undermine our heritage.”
According to the Assembly, the reported move to rename the affected communities as “Wokoloma” is a deliberate effort to distort historical realities and confer legitimacy on individuals and groups it described as non-indigenous.
“We wish to state categorically that Ledor and Tumbee are aboriginal Ogoni territories,” the group declared. “Any attempt to rename these lands with alien identities is a provocative act of territorial aggression and a dangerous precedent.”
The OPA described the development as more than a mere boundary dispute, alleging that it represents a calculated strategy aimed at displacing indigenous people and undermining their cultural and territorial identity.
The group also expressed concern over ongoing oil sector activities linked to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited re-entry plan, involving Sahara Energy and WAGL.
It alleged that the engagement of individuals it termed “recognized strangers” in the process is exacerbating tensions and creating divisions within the communities.
“The current re-entry process is being used as a tool for division rather than development,” the statement added. “By bypassing rightful ancestral owners and empowering non-indigenous actors, these actions are sowing seeds of conflict in our communities.”
As part of its demands, the Assembly called on the Rivers State Government to immediately establish a high-powered Commission of Inquiry to investigate the underlying causes of the dispute, including recent pipeline explosions and escalating tensions in the area.
“We demand an immediate Commission of Inquiry to uncover the remote and immediate causes of these tensions and to review all existing government reports and court judgments on the matter,” the group stated. “Only truth, justice, and transparency can guarantee lasting peace.”
While reaffirming its commitment to non-violent agitation, the Ogoni Peoples Assembly warned that the current trajectory mirrors troubling patterns from the past and must not be ignored.
“We will not fold our hands and watch our people be forcefully removed from their ancestral lands,” the statement warned. “There can be no peace without justice, and not just facts, but the truth must prevail.” The group emphasized that justice, truth, and respect for indigenous rights remain critical to preventing further conflict and ensuring lasting stability in Ogoniland.
