IPDI Warns Ondo Governor Against Alleged Attempt to Grab Akpata Lands, Says Ijaw Will Not Cede Ancestral Territory to Migrants

By Monday Peters, Abuja

The Ijaw People’s Development Initiative (IPDI) has cautioned the Ondo State Governor His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa against any alleged attempt to acquire or annex Akpata lands, insisting that the Ijaw people will not surrender any part of their ancestral territory to migrants in the state.

In a strongly worded statement, the group’s president Comrade Ozobo Austin maintained that Akpatabu remains an integral part of the Ijaw homeland in the state and warned that any action capable of undermining the ownership and territorial rights of the indigenous Ijaw people could threaten peace and stability in the area.

IPDI stressed that the Ijaw people have occupied and exercised ownership over the land for generations, emphasizing that their historical and ancestral rights must be respected and protected.

The organization urged governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to avoid policies or actions that could trigger unnecessary tension, calling instead for dialogue, justice, and respect for the constitutional rights of indigenous community of Akpata over the said land.

According to the group, while the Ijaw people remain peaceful and law-abiding, they are fully prepared to defend their ancestral heritage through lawful means. It reiterated that no part of Ijaw land would be ceded to migrants under any circumstance.

IPDI further called on the Federal Government, relevant security agencies, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders to closely monitor developments and ensure that the rights of the indigenous Ijaw people in the state are not violated.

The group reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the territorial integrity, cultural heritage, and collective interests of the Ijaw nation.