The traditional ruler of Aguleri community in Anambra State, Igwe Christopher Idigo, has issued a stern warning to Enugu and Kogi states over their continued claims to oil wells located in Aguleri. The monarch said no state has a monopoly of violence, as tensions escalate over the ownership of the oil wells.
Background of the Oil Wells Dispute
Since former President Goodluck Jonathan declared Anambra State as the 10th oil-producing state in Nigeria, both Enugu and Kogi states have persistently claimed joint ownership of the oil wells in Aguleri. On Wednesday, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) publicly backed Kogi State's claim, further intensifying the dispute.
Igwe Idigo, who has been restraining the youths of Aguleri from taking drastic actions, said the community would do everything within its reach to ensure peace reigns. He emphasized that the extant boundaries between the three states are properly delineated, and the community has historically inhabited the oil well locations.
Historical and Ancestral Claims by Aguleri
The monarch listed the oil well locations as Agu-Igbuili, Agu-ovo/Okpalia, Ngene-Ejo, Okpa Nkwocha, and Nnobi Aguleri. He stated that Aguleri people have lived in these areas from time immemorial, engaging in farming and fishing activities.
According to Igwe Idigo, “Odeke, the headquarters of Ibaji Clan in Igalaland of Kogi State, traces its origin to Aguleri.” He noted that this ancestral connection explains why the Ibaji people live close to Aguleri and share common boundaries, but it does not grant them ownership rights over the oil wells.
Court Rulings and Failed Claims
The monarch recalled that the Igga community of Enugu State has no title to the Anambra Forest Reserve. In 1967, they demanded compensation from SAFRAP (Nigeria) Limited, but the case ended in court, and they lost. Similarly, in 1984, when Elf Nigeria Limited came for the oil wells, the Igga community demanded compensation but did not succeed.
Now that Orient Petroleum Resources has commenced operations, the Igga community has renewed its claims. However, Igwe Idigo asserted that they are bound to fail again, as they have no title to the oil wells and were previously stopped by a court of competent jurisdiction. He described their case as “not only misconceived or mala fide.”
Implications for Kogi and Enugu Claims
The monarch concluded that Kogi people, like the Igga people of Enugu State, will also fail in their claim to the Anambra oil wells at Aguleri. He reiterated that the community remains committed to peace but will not yield its ancestral land.
The dispute continues to heighten tension in Anambra State, with the Arewa Consultative Forum's support for Kogi adding a regional dimension. The Aguleri community's stance, backed by historical and legal precedents, sets the stage for a prolonged legal and political battle over the oil wells.
