A storm is brewing in the ancient town of Owa-Oyibu as the Owa Royal Palace has issued a blistering statement, denouncing what it described as a calculated smear campaign and organized land-grabbing racket orchestrated by a group of rebellious youths under the banner of the so-called “Ahami-Ihun Oyibu” group.
In a press briefing on Tuesday June 17, 2025, the second son of the traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty (HRM), Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II (JP), issued out a 17-point public statement, the revered traditional institution flatly denied allegations of land grabbing, asserting that such claims are “false, malicious, and an orchestrated attempt to undermine the revered stool of the Obi of Owa.”
His Royal Majesty, who is also the immediate past Chairman of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, maintained that land allocation within the Owa Kingdom has always fallen under the exclusive authority of the monarch, as the overlord and custodian of tradition.
Represented by his second son, Prince Victor Efeizomor, the monarch affirmed that the throne confers upon the king the authority to make decisions concerning land matters within the kingdom.
Said he: “His Majesty reserves the right to allocate and reserve land in Owa for the purpose of development, as has been historically validated and constitutionally protected,” the statement reads in part.
“The attention of the palace of the Obi of Owa has been drawn to LAND GRABBING in Owa Oyibu, the traditional Head Quarters of Owa Kingdom.
“Sequel to the above; it has become necessary to correct this narrative for the interest of Owa indigenes and the general public.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Obi of Owa is vested with the traditional authority to perform any transaction pertaining to the alienation of any piece of land in Owa Oyibu.
“The above assertion has been judicially validated at all levels from time immemorial.
“In view of the above, the palace of the Obi shall commence civil, criminal and traditional actions against the culprits for these libelous publications within and outside Nigeria.
“The public is advised to disregard the said publications”, he stressed.
The palace cited landmark developments that have emerged from such royal allocations, including the University of Delta (Owa-Alaro and Oyibu campuses), Federal Road Staff School, Nigerian Immigration Office, Directorate of State Security Services, Federal and Odogwu Housing Estates, Railway Village, and Julius Berger Site, among others.
It also noted that the Delta State High Court and several markets owe their siting to royal foresight in reserving land.
However, the palace claims that recent attempts by the Ahami-Ihun group to disrupt communal peace stemmed from being blocked from encroaching on officially reserved lands.
Accusations have since escalated into what the palace calls “falsehoods, intimidation of elders, harassment of landowners, and illegal collection of development levies (popularly called ‘DEVE’).”
The palace further accused the group of forming an unauthorized task force, allegedly extorting illegal fees from developers and residents in contravention of Delta State laws.
It also condemned the group’s “rebellious” behavior, including demands for the sack of key palace staff such as the legal adviser and the security head.
According to the statement, some of the allegations leveled by the group are already before courts of competent jurisdiction, while the Nigerian Police have reportedly commenced investigations into the group’s activities.
In a separate press release signed by Prince Victor Grajuwa Efeizomor, the palace threatened civil, criminal, and traditional sanctions against those peddling false narratives and inciting unrest in the community.
“This narrative of land grabbing is a fabrication designed to disparage and defame the royal institution. The public is advised to disregard such libelous claims.
“The Obi of Owa remains committed to justice, fairness, and development,” the release stated.
A Call for Order Amid Growing Tensions
Community observers say the tension in Owa-Oyibu reflects deeper youth dissatisfaction and a perceived lack of consultation in local land management decisions.
However, the palace insists it is open to “constructive and intelligent conversation” and warns against self-appointed judges trying to hijack the process.
As legal proceedings unfold and security agencies deepen their investigation, the people of Owa Kingdom wait with bated breath, caught between royal authority and rising grassroots agitation.
The 17 positions
1. In recent time, there has been issues of alleged land grabbing in Owa-Oyibu against Owa royal palace.
2. This statement is meant to address these lingering issue to set the records straight.
3. The palace wishes to use this medium to refute the allegation and accusation of land grabbing by the so-called Ahami-Ihun Oyibu group.
4. That His Royal Majesty as the overlord and custodian of Owa and tradition reserves the right to allocate land in Owa for the purpose of development.
5. That his Majesty also has the right to reserve lands for the developments in the Owa Kingdom.
6. That such land reservation and allocation saw the emergency in Owa community, such institutions as:
University of Delta, Owa Alaro and Owa-Oyibu Campus
The establishment of Federal road staff school, in Owa-Alaro
The establishment of Odogwu Housing Estate, Owa-Oyibu
Federal Housing Estate, Owa-Oyibu
Delta State Independent Electoral Commission Owa-Oyibu
Nigerian Immigration Office, Owa-Oyibu
Directorate of State Security (DSS)
Railway Village, Owa-Oyibu
Julius Berger Site, Owa-Oyibu
Delta State High Court, Owa-Oyibu Division
Ebu-Owa market Owa-Alaro market and Owa-Oyibu market etc
7. That His Majesty by virtue of his authority as the Obi of Owa, reserves the right to approve all the lands purchased from private individuals for developing purposes.
8. That the allegation of legal grabbing by the Obi of Owa is not only false but a calculated attempt to reduce his estimation before the eyes of the public.
9. That the so-called youths of Agham-ihun, Oyibu group are disturbed because they were stopped from encroaching on reserved land in Owa.
10. That they have now turned rebellious spreading falsehood among the people of Owa community by harassing and intimidating the elders of the community and the Obi of Owa.
11. That these miscreants have constituted a task force that invades individual landed properties to collect and extort illegal fees, popularly called “DEVE” from land developers against the laws of Delta State.
12. That the group have constituted a nuisance in the community to the extent of demanding the sack of Owa Royal Palace legal adviser, Owa palace security head, among other demands.
13. That this group of youths are currently acting in such a manner that has created fear and tension in the minds of the community people.
14. That some of the issues being alleged by this groups are currently pending before the High Courts of competent jurisdiction.
15. That the Nigerian Police have also commenced investigation over the activity of these group.
16. That the palace upholds the principle of justice, equity, fairness and the rule of law in its local administration of the community.
17. That the Owa Royal Palace is open to constructive and intelligent conversation rather [than] the group constituting a judge on to its own case.
