Luebe Community Raises Alarm Over Alleged Land Encroachment

Luebe Community in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State has raised concerns over alleged attempts by one of its neighbours, Igbu-Ujooko Community, to encroach on its ancestral land, calling for urgent intervention by government and relevant authorities.

The alarm was raised following reports that unidentified individuals were recently seen carrying out survey activities on farmlands belonging to the community without prior notice or approval.

Speaking on the development, Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) of the community, Prince Zorte, told Kristina Reports on Thursday, June 4, 2026, that the situation came to light when women and elderly farmers working on their farmlands encountered the individuals allegedly marking out boundaries.

According to him, the presence of the surveyors and the installation of boundary markers have heightened tension within the community, as residents insist that the area being marked has always belonged to Luebe and never been in dispute.

Zorte maintained that the community would not tolerate any form of encroachment, stressing that any further actions on the land must be suspended pending dialogue and proper verification of ownership.

“Our women and fathers, who went to the farm, saw some men surveying our land, taking our land without any reason. So, I had to call the Divisional Police Officer of Taabaa Division and sent community youths there to make entry, and from there the Taabaa Division Policemen and the youths of Luebe community went to the farmland and they discovered that what our mothers and our fathers said is true.”

“I want the Igbu-Ujooko people to know that this land is belongs to the Luebe people, it is Luebe land, not Igbu-Ujooko land, and that we don’t want this survey to continue until we have a concrete agreement or to understand what is going on”, he said.

Also speaking, the Youth President of Luebe Community, Wisdom Dike, appealed to security agencies to intervene promptly to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

He further called on the President of KAGOTE, Lesi Maol, and the Chairman of Khana LGA, Thomas Bariere, to step into the matter and facilitate a peaceful resolution between the affected communities.

Dike warned that failure to address the issue swiftly could escalate tensions, noting that the youths of the community are increasingly concerned about the development.

“We are calling on every security agency, the Commissioner of Police, the Governor of Rivers State, and the Khana Local Government Chairman, Dr Bariere Thomas to come to our aid.”

“We are also calling on the KAGOTE President, Chief Lesi Maol and every concerned Rivers citizen, prominent men and law abiding citizens who love peace to come to our aid.”

“Our land has been surveyed, including the Ogoni oil block, down to Luebe axis, we don’t want any issue, we don’t want to have any tribal crisis as law abiding citizens.”

Meanwhile, addressing residents during a visit to Luebe community, the Chairman of Khana LGA, Thomas Bariere assured the Community that his administration would not condone actions capable of threatening the peace or infringing on the rights of any community.

He stated that no individual or organisation has the right to carry out land-related activities in any community without proper engagement with local authorities and residents, disclosing that he had contacted his Oyigbo LGA counterpart, who he said denied knowledge of the alleged activities.

Urging residents to remain calm and law-abiding, Bariere assured them that security operatives would continue to monitor the area and respond to any emerging threats, encouraging members of the community to report any suspicious movements or unfamiliar persons to relevant security agencies.

Thomas Bariere further sympathised with residents whose farmlands or crops may have been affected during the incident and assured them that anyone found responsible for unlawful acts would be brought to justice.

He commended the people of Luebe for maintaining peace despite the tension and urged them to continue their farming activities without fear.

The Chairman expressed confidence that continued dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders would sustain peace and stability across communities in Khana Local Government Area.

The situation underscores the recurring challenge of land disputes in parts of Rivers State, often linked to unclear boundaries and longstanding communal claims. As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the neighbouring community involved in the dispute.