Tension is running high in the Izansa/Ijelejele/Ikeremor community of Delta State after a group of armed men allegedly attempted to shut down the operations of Kalm Marine and Petroleum Services Limited, an oil company operating on community land. The community leadership has described the incident as a criminal invasion, carried out by impostors falsely claiming ownership of the land.
According to a letter addressed to the company’s Managing Director and signed by five prominent community leaders, the attack occurred when Alex Ebi Fenimine, Pastor Benjamin K. Lude, and others led over 100 men into the company’s operational site using five powerful speedboats, each fitted with 200-horsepower engines.
The group allegedly arrived in a warlike manner and attempted to forcefully shut down the oil company’s operations. Their efforts failed because military personnel were stationed at the site, who immediately took control of the situation and prevented the attackers from carrying out their plan.
Leaders Speak Out
In the official complaint, community leaders—Hon. Johnbull Aniyanghan (Chairman), Mr. Moses Izoukumor (Secretary), Chief Michael Akoubodo (Community Leader), Mr. Stephen Senne (Vice Chairman), and Chief Richard Inaikpo Evene (Elder)—condemned the invasion and expressed anger over the growing threat to peace in the area.
They strongly criticized Fenimine and Lude for falsely claiming that the land where Kalm Marine operates belongs to a group called the “Ogbanabou Federated Communities-Diebri Clan.” The community leaders stated that no such group exists in Delta State or anywhere else and that the claim was fabricated to confuse the oil company and take over land that does not belong to them.
“There is no community known as Ogbanabou Federated Communities-Diebri Clan. The land where your company operates belongs fully to Izansa/Ijelejele/Ikeremor,” the letter read.
The community said they were shocked to discover that the impostors had sent multiple letters to Kalm Marine in the name of the fake group, demanding recognition and claiming ownership of the land. They criticized the company for not alerting them earlier and warned that they will no longer tolerate such threats.
History and Ownership
The letter provided historical background to support the community’s claim to the land. According to the leaders, the area was first settled by their ancestor, Apribodo, “at a time beyond human memory,” and there was no other human presence in the area at that time.
They said the attackers’ motives are not only selfish but dangerous, as they are attempting to create confusion, disrupt oil operations, and threaten the peace and safety of the region for personal gain.
Community Demands Clear Action
The community outlined five major demands in their letter:
- Resist Future Attacks: They urged the company to resist any future attempts by Fenimine, Lude, or their agents to stop operations.
- Involve Law Enforcement: They called on the company to report such attacks to security agencies for investigation and legal action.
- Inform the Community Immediately: They requested that any future threats or warning letters from the impostors should be shared immediately with the community leadership.
- Avoid Dealings with Impostors: They warned Kalm Marine not to engage or negotiate with Fenimine, Lude, or anyone claiming to represent the so-called Ogbanabou group.
- Engage Only with Recognized Leaders: They reminded the company to direct all matters related to land and operations through the officially recognized Executive Council and traditional leaders of Izansa/Ijelejele/Ikeremor.
Strong Warning to the Impostors
In a stern message to the alleged perpetrators, the community warned Alex Ebi Fenimine and Pastor Benjamin K. Lude to stop parading themselves under a fake identity and to stop writing letters or making moves to disrupt Kalm Marine’s operations.
“The law does not respect its breakers,” the leaders said, calling for immediate investigation and enforcement by government authorities.
Appreciation to the Oil Company
Despite the incident, the community thanked the management of Kalm Marine for informing them and for maintaining a good relationship with the host community. They promised to continue supporting the company’s operations, ensuring peace and cooperation.
