The Rivers State Police Command has ordered all individuals and developers occupying disputed parcels of land in Eleme Local Government Area to suspend activities and vacate the affected sites pending the conclusion of investigations into ownership claims.
The directive followed a tripartite meeting convened by the Rivers State Commissioner of Police involving stakeholders from Eleme and Okrika local government areas over allegations of illegal land encroachment, land grabbing and attacks on indigenous landowners.
Speaking after the meeting, the Executive Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Chief Obarilomate Ollor, said those allegedly occupying the disputed lands without lawful authority had been directed to leave the areas to enable security agencies carry out an unhindered investigation.
The disputed locations include areas along the Woji–Aleto–Alesa Link Road, the Railway Corridor, the High Tension corridor in Aleto, as well as parts of Alode and Akpajo-Agbonchia.
The land dispute recently triggered protests that disrupted traffic along the Eleme axis of the East-West Road, including Refinery Junction, Alode Junction and GVC Junction.
Chief Ollor said representatives of both Eleme and Okrika presented their positions before the Commissioner of Police in what he described as a constructive engagement aimed at restoring peace, protecting lives and property, and promoting harmonious coexistence between the neighbouring communities.
According to him, discussions at the meeting established that the crisis was not an ethnic conflict between the people of Eleme and Okrika but a dispute allegedly fuelled by the activities of a few individuals, which should be resolved through lawful means.
He said the Commissioner of Police directed all parties to submit their claims and supporting documents to his office for investigation and verification.
The council chairman also disclosed that his administration would set up a panel to receive petitions from aggrieved landowners whose properties were allegedly encroached upon, with the aim of assisting them in reclaiming their lands.
He assured residents that the council would monitor compliance with the police directive and urged original landowners to remain vigilant and report any fresh cases of trespass or encroachment.
Chief Ollor commended the Rivers State Police Command for its swift intervention and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting Eleme ancestral lands through lawful means.
He appealed to residents to remain calm, obey the law and cooperate with security agencies while investigations continue.
