Tensions between the Letugbene and Ogbotobo communities in Bayelsa State have escalated following a strongly-worded counter statement issued by a group identifying themselves as the Concerned Youths of Ogbotobo. The statement directly refutes earlier claims made by Comrade Ogi Funme Newman, a youth leader from Letugbene, who accused individuals from Ogbotobo of encroaching on Letugbene land and threatening peace in the region.
The Ogbotobo group alleges that the crisis was initiated by Letugbene through what they describe as “unprovoked armed attacks” on Ogbotobo settlements. They claim that Letugbene youths destroyed property worth millions of naira, attacked Ogbotobo individuals returning from a funeral, and even beat a community member in a recent confrontation. According to them, these actions occurred despite previous directives from government authorities urging both parties to remain peaceful pending a full investigation.
Refuting Letugbene’s recent appeal for government intervention, the Concerned Youths of Ogbotobo argue that the same authorities were earlier ignored by Letugbene when advised to avoid escalating the situation. The group criticized Comrade Ogi Funme Newman for what they termed “baseless” claims in a recent publication in Iduwini Voice, where he alleged that Etebere Creek—central to the ongoing land dispute—belongs to Letugbene.
Ogbotobo youth leaders presented a series of rhetorical questions aimed at challenging Letugbene’s narrative. They questioned who initiated the attacks, who destroyed properties, and who is currently displaced. They assert that it is the Ogbotobo community that has suffered the most in the crisis, contrary to Letugbene’s claims of victimhood.
The dispute revolves around Etebere Creek, a parcel of land that the Ogbotobo community claims as its ancestral heritage. According to the Concerned Youths of Ogbotobo, their people have lived on and managed the land for centuries, collecting land rents without interference from Letugbene until recently, when oil reserves were discovered in the area. They allege that the discovery of five oil wells attracted Letugbene’s interest and sparked the current conflict.
They also accuse Letugbene of a pattern of land aggression, citing alleged disputes with neighboring communities such as Ezetu, Azagbene, Peretorugbene, Bilabiri, and Egbemo-Angalabiri. According to them, Letugbene has consistently lost such land claims, and Ogbotobo sees the current situation as part of that ongoing trend.
The statement emphasized that the boundary between the two communities lies at Isabotubor, which they claim is several kilometers from Etebere Creek, thereby undermining Letugbene’s claim to the disputed land. Ogbotobo leaders also claim to have legal documents and traditional evidence supporting their ownership and said they are prepared to present this if called upon by the authorities.
In contrast, Comrade Newman, in his earlier statement, appealed to federal, state, and local authorities to intervene urgently. He claimed that the activities of certain individuals residing in Ogbotobo were inciting division and seeking to claim Letugbene’s ancestral lands for personal gain, leveraging their influence through Renaissance Africa Energy Company Ltd (RAEC), which is operating in the disputed territory.
Comrade Newman also warned that if the conflict is not resolved quickly, it could escalate into a full-blown crisis, endangering lives and disrupting the region’s social and economic stability. He insisted that Letugbene has coexisted peacefully with Ogbotobo for decades, sharing family ties and cultural bonds. However, he said that Letugbene will “vehemently resist” any attempt to take their land and will not surrender any portion of it to what he called “Ogbotobo migrants.”
The Concerned Youths of Ogbotobo have rejected these accusations and insist that Letugbene’s recent outcry is an attempt to cover up their initial aggression. They claim that their community has shown restraint and commitment to peace, but they also warned that they will not hesitate to defend their land.
In a final remark, the Ogbotobo youths stated that unless Letugbene answers for the alleged attacks and withdraws from Etebere Creek, there can be no meaningful peace. They declared their readiness to defend their land “with the last drop of our blood” and called on relevant government agencies and security operatives to recognize who they believe is the true aggressor in the crisis.
The standoff continues to attract attention at the state and federal levels, with both communities appealing to high-level government authorities, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, for urgent intervention. However, a lasting resolution may prove elusive unless both sides agree on the true ownership of the disputed territory and a framework for peaceful coexistence.
