The Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon. Dr Gift Worlu, has raised concern over the growing menace of land grabbing in Rivers State, warning that it could plunge the state into chaos if not urgently addressed.
Speaking as a guest on Nigeria Info 92.3 FM, Port Harcourt, Dr Worlu described land grabbing as a “hydra-headed problem” linked to violent crimes such as murder, cultism, and kidnapping. He alleged that the syndicates behind the crime often involve compromised government officials, security agents, lawyers, real estate operators, and even traditional rulers.
According to him, Obio/Akpor and neighbouring LGAs, including Etche, Ikwerre, Omuma, and Eleme, have recorded alarming cases. Communities such as Rumuekini, Akpajo, Ogbogoro, and Rumuosi, he noted, have witnessed families, cooperatives, and individuals either swindled or violently displaced from their lands despite having valid documentation.
Dr Worlu cited instances where lecturers and professionals lost lifetime investments due to fraudulent court orders and brute force, leaving many victims devastated and, in some cases, dead.
He disclosed that his office is compiling petitions and reports for submission to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, the Commissioner of Police, the Director of DSS, the Inspector General of Police, the National Assembly, and even the Presidency to underscore the seriousness of the problem.
The OBALGA chairman called for the establishment of a special panel of inquiry, similar to what was adopted in Lagos, to identify perpetrators and provide lasting solutions. He also advocated for a statewide task force against land grabbing, stressing that justice must be served and perpetrators jailed to serve as a deterrent.
“The menace of land grabbing is no longer a local issue; it has become a statewide threat. We need the collaboration of all well-meaning Rivers people, government institutions, and security agencies to nip it in the bud before it escalates into outright pandemonium,” he warned.
Dr. Worlu further urged the state government to modernize land registries, update mapping systems, and enforce regulations to restore public confidence, noting that investors, both local and in the diaspora, are fast losing trust in acquiring land in Rivers State.
