Residents of the Idu Ekpeye community in the Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State have raised the alarm over the presence of stern-looking security personnel in the area.
Community members said the presence of the operatives had heightened tension among residents.
The concern was raised in a statement issued on Friday by Tuduru Ede, SAN, who represents landlords from the community in a legal dispute involving them and an oil firm over the Ubie Delivery Line.
Ede, in the statement sent to journalists, alleged that multiple security agencies were deployed to the community amid an ongoing dispute over compliance with a judgment delivered by a Rivers State High Court.
According to him, the community landlords secured a judgment on May 5, 2026, in Suit No. PHC/3/2022 at the Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt concerning the reacquisition of the pipeline.
The SAN alleged that the company had yet to comply with the court’s directive concerning the payment of the judgment sum into an interest-yielding account of the court, calling on the firm to comply with relevant orders and allow the judicial process to run its course.
Ede further alleged that he had received threats during a telephone conversation in connection with his legal representation of the landlords.
However, the circumstances surrounding the reported deployment of security personnel and the alleged threats could not be independently established as of the time of filing this report.
The dispute, according to the lawyer, also involves longstanding concerns over the use of community land for oil-related operations and compensation for affected landlords.
He urged the company to address the issues through lawful means and avoid any action that could heighten tension between the community and security personnel.
Ede also appealed to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as well as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, to intervene and encourage compliance with the court’s orders.
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