By Austin Ogwuda, with additional Report from Magnus Emuji
*Okpanam community stages peaceful march, claiming true ownership of the land
*Issele-Azagba community fumes, spoiling for showdown, insisting too on the ownership of the land
*Cubana Millennium Estate defies 2 weeks ultimatum to change signpost to Okpanam instead of Asaba
*Delta State government keeps silent
THERE is growing tension in Okpanam, Oshimili North local government area of Delta State, Nigeria, following the insistence of neighbouring Issele-Azagba community, which is also laying claim to the ownership of the land where the Millennium Development Estate owned by Chief Obinna Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana) is located.
*The Ugoani of Okpanam, HRM Michael Mbanefo delivering his address during the groundbreaking ceremony
Whilst the people of Okpanam staged a peaceful march to the Estate, they urged the company to dismiss alleged fear of possible disruption of work given Issele-Azagba’s recent publication, they (Okpanam) at the same time asked the company to change its signpost to reflect Okpanam instead of Asaba, which it is currently bearing.
Okpanam Community had issued a 14-day ultimatum to the management of the Estate to declare that Okpanam is the rightful host Community.
That ultimatum dated 4th of February, 2026, had since expired without compliance.
Two days ago, (Thursday) Okpanam community during the peaceful march to the company made it clear that the community was not happy that the company was foot dragging to comply.
The Ikejiani of Okpanam, Chief Felix Okafor said that the peaceful demonstration was necessitated by a recent publication alleging that the land where Cubana Millennium City is developing belongs to Issele -Azagba community.
Also speaking, the President-General of Okpanam Youth Organization (OYO), Comrade Lucky Okolo called on Obi Cubana to rewrite his signpost from Cubana Millennium City, Asaba to Cubana Millennium City, Okpanam saying that the signpost should not in anyway carry Asaba as its identity.
Okolo warned that “Issele -Azagba community should not disrupt the work by Obi Cubana on a landed property duly acquired from the owners of the land which is Ogbeozoma village of Okpanam”.
Issele-Azagba fumes
Similarly, the Issele-Azagba community sometime ago staged a strong protest against the Cubana Millennium City Project, accusing the Obi Cubana-led group of forcefully taking over and destroying community farmland.
*Issele-Azagba community addressing a press conference sometime in December last year over the land issue
The community called on the Delta State Government to urgently intervene and halt the ongoing development pending proper negotiations and due process.
Addressing a press conference sometime ago, Elder Patrick Isichei, President-General of the Issele-Azagba Development Union, said the community was taken aback when “suddenly, the Obi Cubana Group entered the disputed land and began destroying farmlands and erecting structures”.
Isichei further disclosed that the community had earlier petitioned the Deputy Governor over the land dispute, but “it fell on deaf ears,” as no action was taken and the Cubana Group continued activities on the land.
According to him, the Issele-Azagba community had fully complied with the Deputy Governor’s directive instructing both communities involved in the dispute to stay off the land until the government concluded its boundary and ownership review.
He accused the Okpanam community of allegedly reneging.
*Delta State government keeps silent
Meanwhile, as at the time of this report, no official statement has come from the Delta State government, which, had been, severally alerted by the two warring communities about the imbroglio.
*Peaceful march to Cubana Millenium Estate by Okpanam community on Thursday
