Delta Oil Dispute Sparks Community Conflict

Tension over fresh crude oil discovery in Delta community has ignited a dispute in Okpe-Isoko community, Delta State, with the Adhakpor family rejecting a purported land lease agreement with Sterling Global Limited for exploration and development of the oil-bearing property.

Sterling Global Limited, a company involved in oil exploration, entered into a lease agreement with the Adhakpor family, sparking a conflict with the community leader, Chief Ide Abade, who refused the agreement. The Adhakpor family alleges that the agreement was unlawfully introduced, leading to the community leader's arrest, according to the Head of the Adhakpor family, Chief Ide Abade, stating he was arrested over his opposition to the lease.

The Adhakpor family claimed that a community leader, collaborating with members, introduced individuals not part of the family into the negotiation committee, further complicating the situation. This alleged infiltration was a key point of contention, as the Adhakpor family asserted their forefather's land ownership and the portion where the oil was discovered belonged exclusively to them.