Delta Communities Accuse Okonjo-Iweala’s Brothers of Land Grabs, Police-Backed Assaults
Residents of Ubulu-Okiti and Aniagbala communities in Delta State have accused the brothers of WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of using armed thugs and police forces to seize ancestral farmlands in a mounting land dispute.
Residents in the Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State are raising alarm over what they describe as escalating intimidation, violence, and land seizures allegedly orchestrated by Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo, the monarch of Ogwashi-Uku, and his brother, Prince Onyema Okonjo.
The brothers, who are siblings to former Nigerian Finance Minister and current WTO chief, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, are accused of forcibly annexing lands with the backing of heavily armed police units.
According to community leaders, tensions flared in December 2024 when thugs allegedly hired by the Okonjo brothers, accompanied by security escorts and bulldozers, invaded farmlands in Aniagbala and Ubulu-Okiti.
Economic assets including palm plantations, irrigation systems, and bee farms were reportedly destroyed. One prominent victim, Mr. Luke Ejiofor, an investment banker, allegedly lost his modern farm installations during the incursion.
Residents also recount violent midnight raids by policemen from Zone 5 in Benin. Mrs. Osemene said officers beat her and her husband, leaving them with injuries. Another resident, Miss Japhet, said she sustained severe wounds during a police assault and still bears the scars.
The Okonjo brothers allegedly claim authority over the lands based on a court judgment, but local leaders insist the ruling pertains only to a parcel of land in Edo-Ogwashi far from their communities.
Chief John Dumbili, the Ojunwa Eze of Ubulu-Okiti, explained, “That judgment never involved our land. We were not parties to the case, yet they’re using it as a legal cover to seize over 686 hectares.”
In a dramatic escalation, several community members were arrested and charged with illegal firearm possession despite the fact that the weapons were reportedly single-barrel rifles legally assigned to government-recognized vigilante units.
Critics say the police acted on behalf of the monarch’s interests, aided by the former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Nwazue Arungwa.
“They never gave us a fair hearing,” one community member said. “Even after we petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, the Zone 5 office in Benin refused to cooperate with investigators from Abuja.
“This is no longer a legal dispute. It’s an outright attempt to criminalize our leaders and sell off our lands under the guise of royalty,” one elder said.
The affected communities are calling on President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and civil society organizations to intervene before the situation spirals further out of control.
“The level of impunity, the misuse of police power, and the illegal occupation of our lands are deeply troubling. If not urgently addressed, this could ignite wider unrest in Delta State,” warned Chief Dumbili.
Attempts to reach the Okonjo family for comment were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, police spokesperson Bright Edafe claimed he was unaware of any such allegations or reports of assault.
