Indigenes of 17 Ogoni communities, who were displaced in 1994 during the military regime of late Sani Abacha, have raised the alarm over a renewed threat of land grabbing on their ancestral lands.

The communities said their land, which spans three local council areas of Rivers State, is allegedly being encroached upon by foreigners in connivance with neighbouring communities, who are said to be unlawfully selling portions of it.

The concerns were raised during a gathering to mark the 32nd anniversary of the sacking of the Lekuma-Ogoni communities by the military.

They recalled that the military invasion of their communities during the Ogoni struggle led to the death of hundreds of people.

Speaking at the event, a woman leader from the Lekuma Community in Tai Local Council Area, Esther Gboro, alleged that some individuals, accompanied by members of a neighbouring community, frequently invade their ancestral lands.

She alleged that the assailants sell portions of the land at giveaway prices without recourse to the rightful owners.

She said: “They come here with land grabbers and sell our land. They sell two plots of land for N300, 000 and give one free. So, that made people buy more land from them.

“They don’t even want to know the real owners who live there; they will just come and buy the land.”

Gboro said during a recent invasion, the alleged land grabbers came with markers, possibly to demarcate large portions for sale, but were resisted by the natives, who she said are ready to defend their land.