Tensions have escalated in the Woji community of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State as two traditional rulers publicly trade blame over a contested parcel of ancestral land known as Gbalajam. The disputed territory, situated between the Woji community and Alesa in the Eleme Local Government Area, has become a flashpoint for panic among local residents who fear potential unrest.
His Majesty Leslie Eke, the traditional ruler of Evo Kingdom, addressed journalists to clarify that local youth had been mobilized to safeguard the property against unauthorized transactions. Eke accused Chief Emeka Ihunwo of unlawfully disposing of portions of the land to the public for more than a decade without royal consent. According to Eke, Ihunwo is not a member of the royal lineage and previously served merely as a palace secretary, making his current assertions regarding land custodianship entirely unfounded under local custom.
In stark contrast, Chief Emeka Ihunwo, who claims the title of Paramount Ruler of the Woji Community, countered that Eke and his supporters had unlawfully encroached upon the property despite active legal proceedings. Ihunwo alleged that the Evo monarch arrived at the location accompanied by an excavator and numerous young men, creating unnecessary alarm over a matter that remains sub judice. He noted that ongoing litigation involving the Gbalajam land is currently before a court of competent jurisdiction, with further hearings scheduled for later in the month.
Both traditional figures acknowledged the intervention of the Rivers State Police Command in restoring relative calm to the area. While Eke expressed appreciation for the police commissioner's proactive measures and pledged adherence to the rule of law, Ihunwo appealed directly to state authorities to restrain the Evo monarch from taking actions that might jeopardize community stability while judicial processes unfold.
Source reporting: Punch — 2026-11-05 00:35:28
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